HIGH PHEASANTS 
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pheasant, here is a contrary one to the above. In the park at 
Cobham in Kent there are some wonderful ash-trees, probably 
the tallest timber in our islands, though nearly approached by 
some beeches at Ashridge Park in Hertfordshire. Mr. Elwes, 
in his very fine volumes on Forestry, gives the height of some 
of the ash-trees at Cobham as being from 138 ft. to 144 ft. 
When at Cobham lately, I carefully verified the heights of some 
of them, and my measurements agreed with those given by 
Mr. Elwes. Over these trees pheasants have not been shot, 
but over others at Cobham of the same kind, measured as 
128 ft., pheasants have many times been killed. 
The owner of Cobham, who has a great experience of 
shooting, assures me this is the case, which puts the matter 
beyond all possible doubt. 
The height of a pheasant above ground is, it may be said, 
invariably over-estimated, though the height of a tree, chimney, 
or church tower, may as easily be under-estimated. When 
cricket is dull at Lord's, which it frequently is, and shooting 
is perhaps a relieving topic, sportsmen are apt to notice the 
massive chimney so plainly visible opposite the entrance gates. 
I have often heard the question asked : ' Could you kill a 
pheasant at the top of that chimney ? ' The minority of 
shooters will say : ' No ; I don't think I could, as it must be 
quite 40 yds. high.' But the more usual reply that I have 
heard is : ' Well, a bird at the top of that chimney would be 
a real good one, but I think I could kill it sometimes.' 
The manager of the electric works to which the chimney 
belongs has given me accurate details of it. It stands 
244 ft. 9 ins. above ground, or 81 yds., so it is evident that a 
pheasant flying level with its top would be far beyond the reach 
of a game-gun — ^nearly twice as far, it may be said. The 
