196 
RING-NECKED PHEASANT. 
abundant, and the ample store of wild fruits and ber- 
ries which nature Inis every where provided, render 
this their time of feasting. As winter approaches, they 
are reduced to less various fare, and resort to the fal- 
lows in search of roots, and to the turnip fields; and 
Mr Selby has remarked, that the roots of the bul- 
bous crowfoot ( Ranunculus bulbosus), and of the 
garden tulip, are both much sought after. The lat- 
ter they omit no opportunity of obtaining, and which, 
by means of the bill and feet, they are almost certain 
to reach, however deep it may be buried. In extensive 
preserves, during this season, they are always regu- 
larly fed, and know the feeding hour and call of the 
keeper correctly, and by this means they are pre- 
vented from straying. The most successful and fa- 
vourite food at these times is peas or grain. In the 
south of England, the breeding of pheasants for the 
supply of preserves, is carried on to a great extent, 
and on this account the bird can almost never be seen 
except in an artificial state ; for being turned out of the 
nursing-houses early in the season, and fed and nursed 
in the covers for the winter’s batteau, they are slug- 
gish and lazy, quite fearless, and can afford any 
thing but sport to one accustomed to follow game 
in their wild and natural haunts. The slaughter at 
these shooting meetings is sometimes soimmense, that 
the game can scarcely be made use of, and they were 
formerly much more wanton on the Continent than 
in England. 
In perhaps the largest game establishment of 
