File:Rural bird life - being essays on ornithology with instructions for preserving objects relating to that science (1880) (14565866159).jpg

Identifier: ruralbirdlifebei00dixo (find matches)
Title: Rural bird life : being essays on ornithology with instructions for preserving objects relating to that science
Year: 1880 (1880s)
Authors: Dixon, Charles, 1858-1926 Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899
Subjects: Birds Birds
Publisher: Boston : Estes and Lauriat

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in the ancient kingdom of Colchis, on the easternshores of the Black Sea. A bird of rare beauty, hefrequents the woods and plantations, and, where thehedgerows afford sufficient shelter, the fields. He some-times frequents the scrubby birch plantations and firwoods on the borders of the wild ; but the place heloveth best is in the richer and well-cultivated tracts ofcountry. The Pheasant is subject to much variation inplumage ; but curiously enough these variations are forthe most part confined to the male birds. The femalewill, however, sometimes assume the plumage of themale, yet when this does occur she is never known tobreed. We sometimes see them pure white, or whitemottled with their rich and splendid general plumage.There is also a permanent variety known as the Ring-necked Pheasant, having the rich plumage of the neckencircled with a band of feathers of snowy whiteness :the female bird however never exhibits this peculiarity.Like most showy birds, the male Pheasant delights to
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PHEASANT. THE PHEASANT. 299 frequent the densest cover, is shy and timid, and hideshis rich and varied charms in soHtude. So carefully is the Pheasant preserved for the sportit yields, and so tame and semi-domesticated has itbecome in some places through the protection affordedit, that we can scarcely deem it a wild bird in thiscountry, or view its habits as strictly normal. True, hehas that in his nature which defies our efforts to com-pletely domesticate him, an inherent timidity, whichsends him into cover upon the slightest alarm, in spiteof the protection and safety with which he is surrounded.There are, however, many places where the Pheasantroams wild and almost uncared for, and there I intendyou to stray and study his habits—places where, left tohimself, he doubtless displays a near approach to thosehabits and instincts which his kindred do in their Easternsolitudes The Pheasant spends by far the greater part of histime on the ground, searching for food, much after themanner

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