48 
HIGH PHEASANTS : 
bone ; another pellet slightly fractured the small end of the 
breast-bone. The third pellet struck, and partially flattened 
against, the bone of the skull below the right eye, where it 
remained beneath the skin. It did not fracture the bone, but 
stunned the bird, which was killed by its violent contact 
with the ground, or, perhaps, the branch of a tree, as it was 
much lacerated. 
16. Hen bird, struck by two pellets ; both pellets imbedded 
in the vertebrae of the neck on the right side. Though the 
bird was much smashed internally by its violent contact with 
the ground, it may have been killed in the air, but was more 
probably stunned by the shot, and killed by the fall. 
17. Cock bird, struck by five pellets ; three pellets caused 
superficial flesh wounds on the breast, not penetrating more 
than J in. through the pectoral muscles ; one pellet entered 
the abdominal cavity near the smaller end of the breast- 
bone. Another pierced the pectoral muscle about J in. on 
one side of the breast-bone, and, lodging in the heart, killed 
the bird. The pellets found in this specimen were No. 7. 
18. Hen bird struck by two pellets ; one pellet cracked the 
shin-bone of the left leg, and the other, glancing for nearly an 
inch along the skin of the neck, entered the head beneath the 
chin, and, passing through the brain, fractured the top of the 
skull, and killed the bird. 
19. Cock bird, struck by four pellets ; one pellet slightly 
cut the skin of the left side of the neck, inflicting no real 
injury. The other three pellets were within i in. of each other, 
just outside the left side of the breast-bone. They had all 
travelled towards the heart through the pectoral muscle, and 
were found nearly touching it. The shock of these three 
peUets brought the bird down, but it is an open question 
