COMMON PHEASANT. 
293 
and taking part in the duties of protecting and rearing the 
young. In this as in other countries where Pheasants are 
reared for sport, the greater number of birds killed are cocks, 
and hence, in the following spring, there is generally a pre- 
ponderance of females, which may account for the polygamous 
habits of introduced birds. The males are remarkably quarrel- 
some in the pairing season, fighting fiercely with one another 
for the different females, the more powerful birds appropriating 
the lion’s share for their harem. When the females have laid 
their full complement of eggs, the male troubles his head no 
more about them, leaving them to undertake all the cares m 
rearing their family unaided. They cannot be called good 
mothers, for, unlike the majority of game-birds, on the approach 
of danger, they seek safety in flight, leaving the young to 
escape and hide themselves as best they can. This habit is 
often extremely disastrous to the brood, especially when the 
chicks are very small, for, on her return, the mother is 
apparently perfectly satisfied with finding one or two of her 
scattered young, and the remainder are consequently left to 
perish. For this reason gamekeepers are naturally anxious that 
the coverts, where " wild birds ” are breeding, should not be 
disturbed during the nesting-season, and it is hardly surpri^ng 
that they should treat trespassers with scant courtesy. The 
majority of birds shot annually in the large preserves in this 
countrj' and in Europe are, of course, reared from eggs placed 
under domestic hens, who make excellent mothers to their 
foster-children. On leaving her nest in the morning and 
evening in search of food, the hen Pheasant is always careful 
to cover her eggs with dead leaves, and she generally quits and 
returns to her nest on the wing, thus avoiding as far as possible 
the danger of being tracked by her enemies. 
The crow of the male resembles the syllables or-ork, which 
are often repeated several times in succession, and may be 
exactly imitated by opening the mouth and drawing the breath 
in sharply to the back of the throat. This call is generally to 
be heard in the morning and evening, especially about sunset, 
when the birds are going to roost, but during the pairing 
season it may be heard at all times of the day, and is also 
given vent to when they are flushed or suddenly startled by 
the report of a gun or a clap of thunder. 
