THE PHEASANT. 
21 
that when cantered up to, or charged on horseback, they would run 
across a considerable stretch of field to the preserve rather than take 
to flight. The effect of thunder in prompting these birds to crow has 
been noticed by some writers, I particularly remarked it on the 7th 
April, 1833, when walking along the banks of the river Lagan. Be- 
tween four and five o’clock in the afternoon there were several peals of 
thunder, at the immediate commencement of each of which many 
pheasants in Belvoir Park loudly crowed, though quite silent that day 
at other times. The capture of pheasants by means of the fumes of 
sulphur is not believed in by Mr. Waterton. Although never present 
myself at any such poaching delinquency, 1 have no doubt, from what 
has been stated to me, that they are so taken, and that the vile practice 
is resorted to on the western, as well as on the eastern side of the Irish 
sea. Pull particulars of the manner in which the birds are obtained 
have indeed been communicated to me, but I shall not give currency 
to them. 
I have been kindly supplied by Mr. James R. Garrett, a most ac- 
curate observer, with the following comments : — “ Mr. Yarrell has 
stated (Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 315, 2nd ed.) that ‘ pheasants do not 
pair, and except during the spring, the males and females do not even 
associate.’ And Mr. Macgillivray says (Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 124,) 
‘ The female after depositing her eggs among the long grass, or under 
the shade of a bush, having merely scraped a slight hollow which she 
has scantily lined with leaves, is deserted by the male, and performs 
the task of bringing forth, and leading about, the young without his 
assistance.’ 
“ These observations are correct with reference to the usual habits of 
the pheasant whilst in a semi-domesticated state, but I have on several 
occasions known the cock to accompany the hen and her young brood, 
‘ leading them about’ until the latter were able to take care of them- 
selves. 
“ In these instances the parent birds had (as the species is prone to 
do) strayed beyond their ‘preserves’ at the breeding season ; and the 
circumstance of their having paired while thus enjoying fuR liberty, 
tends to confirm the view expressed by Mr. Macgillivray (Brit. Birds, 
vol. i. p. 273), where, speaking of the rock-dove, he observes, — ‘ It is 
monogamous, as I apprehend all wild birds, even the GalHnaceous, 
