lod 
PHEASANT. 179 
common now throughout this country, as also pretty generally 
in Ireland; and in Scotland occurs even so far north as 
Sutherlandshire. 
The favourite resorts of Pheasants are woods wherever 
situated, and whether larger or smaller, and thick plantations, 
especially if near rivers and marshy places, osier beds, and 
islands overrun with tangled vegetation, long grass, rushes, 
reeds, and brambles, and at times they resort to hedgerows. 
Their large size and conspicuous appearance: render them an 
easy prey to prowling marauders on many a ‘shiny night at 
the season of the year, and their value for the table furnishes 
a strong incentive to take them, even if the natural instinct 
of the chase did not sufficiently provide it. The paths that 
they form in thickets, invite the treacherous snare, the air-gun 
can easily reach them on their visible roost, or even a noose 
at the end of a pole; should they fly, the difficulty is to miss 
them with a gun; and should any of these means not be 
resorted to, a villainous sulphur match will bring them down. 
In the winter the males generally keep by themselves, and 
in spring, about March, again choose a domain and haunt of 
their own, strutting, crowing, and clapping their wings to the 
admiration of the females. The former are as they have need 
to be, more wary than the latter. One has been known in 
defence of his wives to attack and drive off a cat, which was 
accidentally approaching. Of another it is related by the Rev. 
Leonard Jenyns, that it was so bold and fierce, that it ‘was 
accustomed to make frequent sallies upon persons passing near 
the place of its resort. I saw it myself fly boldly at the 
proprietor of the grounds, who purposely approached the spot, 
in order that I might witness the extent of its courage and 
ferocity; it commenced pecking his legs, and striking with its 
wings, pursuing him for a considerable distance down one of 
the walks. Some wood-cutters, who were at work close by, 
were in the habit of protecting their legs with strong leather 
gaiters from the attacks of this bird, which was constantly 
interrupting and annoying them in this manner.’ Of another 
it is recorded that having roosted in the neighbourhood of a 
farm-yard, where game fowls were kept, it killed three cocks 
In succession, but was slain by a fourth, which the owner armed 
with spurs for protection. Another went into a farm-yard, 
and for several months kept company with the hens there, 
making his appearance at daybreak, and retiring into the woods 
to roost at night. 
