284 PHEASANTS AND BUSTARDS. 
This boldness is not always confined to the domestic 
tenants of the farm-yard. The following instances prove that 
even the wild Pheasant of the woods, and the still more shy 
and solitary Bustard of the plains, can occasionally lay aside 
their fear of the human race, and fight as fierce a battle as 
this Game Cock. 
A young lady walking alone, a few miles from Stirling, 
observed a beautiful cock Pheasant perched on a stone by the 
road- side. Instead of showing timidity at her approach, he 
flew down upon her, and with spurs and beak began a furious 
assault. Being closely pursued," and seeing no way of 
escape from the enraged bird, she adopted the only alterna- 
tive that was left — namely, of seizing her adversary, whom 
she carried home, hut soon afterwards released. On the door 
being opened, however, he went out without any sign of fear, 
and, with a deliberate step, paced backwards and forwards in 
front of the house, and manifested an inclination to join the 
fowls in the poultry-yard. It should he remarked, that the 
young lady, when attacked, wore a scarlet mantle, which 
probably excited the irritability of the Pheasant, as it is 
well known to do that of the Turkey-cock and some other 
animals. 
The case of the Bustard occurred some years ago on 
Tilshead downs, in Wiltshire, in the month of June, to a man 
who was going along the road on horseback, about four 
o’clock in the morning. His attention was first turned to a 
large bird flying above his head, which proved to he a 
Bustard, though till then he had scarcely ever heard of such 
a bird. He had not proceeded far before it had alighted on 
the ground, immediately in front of the horse, which it soon 
showed signs of attacking, and in a few seconds began the 
onset. The rider dismounted with all speed, and, getting 
hold of the Bustard, endeavoured to secure it, in which, after 
a long and severe struggle, he succeeded, and carried it to 
the house of the person to whom he was going, where it was 
confined. During the first week it was not known to eat 
anything ; but, finally, it became very tame, and would take 
food from the hands of those accustomed to feed it, though 
