The Common Pheasant 
85 
from shore to shore is nearly four miles across. There was a strong northerly breeze blowing 
at the time, so that they would cross before the wind, or with the wind a little aslant. 
1 have occasionally found pheasants in the marshes, and near the embankment, which I was 
sure must have come across, but had no direct evidence of the fact." 
On the other hand, I have seen many instances of Pheasants losing heart after a con- 
siderable flight and falling to the ground or in the water. I was shooting the covers at 
Foyers, by Loch Ness, in December 1890, when three Pheasants took wing from the south 
side and attempted to cross the lake at this point, about miles wide. They rose at a 
considerable height, and after flying for about three-quarters of a mile all three alighted 
on the water, when they at once turned round and were captured by a boat whilst 
swimming homewards. I have also seen Pheasants fall or alight in the river Tay, and 
swim ashore. It seems to be well known that on occasions adult Pheasants will volun- 
tarily swim across small pools and brooks in preference to flying over them, and various 
correspondents in the Field have recorded instances both of adults and young birds 
following their mothers across water. We have all witnessed the facility with which 
"winged" Pheasants will swim ashore to escape from a dog; and I have often seen 
hens dive for a few inches to escape being captured. 
The usual cry of the male is a sharp " kok-cock," repeated three times. The young 
male begins to call in September, but the note is weak and unfinished until the end of 
October. At this season, too, both old and young cocks often make use of the cry with 
the subsequent quick wing shiver, which is always used as the season advances. I 
have two or three times seen cocks, both wild and in confinement, call and clap the 
wings at the same time, but the circumstance is rare. On spring days or fine frosty 
mornings in winter, one cock Pheasant will call and set all the rest of the males in the 
wood crowing. In fact, any unusual noise will cause Pheasants to answer, such as 
guns, explosions, bells, bands, or thunder. I live 41 miles from Portsmouth, yet every 
big gun that is fired there in spring is answered with the greatest regularity by 
every cock Pheasant in the forest of St. Leonard's. 
Just before going to roost in spring and winter (I particularise these seasons 
because young birds generally roost on the ground until October, and adults sometimes 
in summer) the male makes several metallic cries, whilst looking upwards and jerking 
his head towards the perch he has selected. As he flies up the usual cry is emitted, 
and if you are desirous of knowing how many cocks there are in a wood you can 
ascertain by listening. One winter I was staying for a ball and a shoot with a dear 
friend of mine, who has now passed on, when on asking a servant where the master 
was, was told that I would find him in such and such a wood close to the gate. 
Here I discovered him with a pencil and a note-book. I could not make out what on 
earth he was doing, when at last he rose and said enigmatically: "Eighty-one. I'm 
just counting how many cock Pheasants I'm going to show you bleary-eyed dancers 
to-morrow " ; and he was quite right, for about that number came from the wood 
next day. 
Mr. Ogilvie Grant is of opinion that the Common Pheasant is not by nature 
polygamous, and that in its true home it is monogamous, and that it takes part in 
protecting the female in the incubating period and subsequently in raising the young, 
