266 A DESCRIPTION OF 
the whole being set off by several spots of shining black ; 
but as in every other kind of well-painted birds, nature 
has for somewise purposes, yet unknown to us, denied the 
female that admirable beauty of plumage. The Pheasant 
lives in the woods, which he leaves at dusk to perambulate 
corn-fields and other sequestered places, where he feeds 
with his females, upon acorns, berries, grain, and seeds of 
plants, but chiefly on ants' eggs, of which he is particu- 
larly fond. His flesh is justly accounted better meat than 
any of the domestic or wild fowls, as it unites the delicacy 
of the common chicken to a peculiar taste of its own. 
The female lays eighteen or twenty eggs once a year, in 
the wild state; but it is in vain that we have attempted 
to domesticate this bird entirely, as she never will remain 
patiently confined, and if she ever breeds in confinement, 
she is very careless of her brood. 
There are great varieties of Pheasants, of extraordinary 
beauty and brilliancy of colours; many of these, brought 
from the rich provinces of China, are kept in aviaries in 
this kingdom: the common Pheasant is likewise a native 
of the East, and is the only one of its kind that has mul- 
tiplied in our island ; but of late years they have become 
so numerous in our preserves, that at feeding time in the 
morning, they may be seen in the neighbouring fields in 
large numbers, running about almost as tame as chickens. 
This beautiful bird is elegantly described in the follow- 
ing passage : 
See ! from the brake the whirring Pheasant springs, 
And mounts exulting on triumphant wings ; 
Short is his joy ; he feels the fiery wound, 
Flutters in blood, and panting beats the ground; 
Ah ! what avails his glossy, varying dyes, 
His purple crest, his scarlet-circled eyes, 
The vivid green his shining plumes unfold, 
His painted wings, and breast that flames with gold ! 
POPE'S WINDSOR FOREST. 
