. Bird lore . n Pheasantsitting on her nest in the bank at the edge of a wooded hillside, close to a mainhighway where all kinds of vehicles were passing within six feet. There wasa small pine tree growing just above, and a piece of brush stuck up over the was the only cover for the nest, yet the dull colors of the bird blended soperfectly with the olive-brown earth and the dead grasses and oak leaves that The Ring-Necked Pheasant 3 she was scarcely noticeable. Several years ago a Pheasant scooped out andlined a hollow between the ties just outside the rails of our local trolley line
. Bird lore . n Pheasantsitting on her nest in the bank at the edge of a wooded hillside, close to a mainhighway where all kinds of vehicles were passing within six feet. There wasa small pine tree growing just above, and a piece of brush stuck up over the was the only cover for the nest, yet the dull colors of the bird blended soperfectly with the olive-brown earth and the dead grasses and oak leaves that The Ring-Necked Pheasant 3 she was scarcely noticeable. Several years ago a Pheasant scooped out andlined a hollow between the ties just outside the rails of our local trolley line,where both passenger and freight cars are passing frequently. It was only a fewfeet from a switch and was found by one of the brakemen, who flushed herbefore the eggs were laid, and she never came back to the nest. The nest isalmost sure to be deserted if found before the set is complete, and many timeseven after incubation is commenced. In summer, the principal food of the Pheasants seems to be insects, such. PHEASANT ON NEST as grasshoppers, June bugs, and caterpillars, and they often destroy ant-hills,eating the ants, but as the season advances they do some damage to grain andcorn. In September, they congregate in the valley around the marsh and lake,where they can be found gleaning the fields that have been harvested. After the snows cover their natural food-supply, many of them can be seenpatrolling the shores of the lake in company with Crows, Herring Gulls, andBlack Ducks, searching for food in the weeds that the breakers have washedashore. During very cold spells, when they get their tails wet, snow adheresto them, freezing on and causing them much inconvenience. I once flushed ahen Pheasant that had a great bunch of snow and ice adhering to her tail,weighting her down so much that it was with great difficulty that she managedto rise and fly away. 4 Bird - Lore They also come into the barnyards and feed with the chickens, and into thegardens, where I have seen them jum
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectorn
