A visit to a farm house; or, An introduction to various subjects connected with rural economy. / Seventh edition, revised and corrected.

by active 1801-1820? S. W.

Early in the afternoon, he proposed to his young visitors to take a walk to the pheasantry, as it was called; an offer which they gladly accepted. They entered the inclosure by going through a pretty cottage, where an old man lived who had the care of the birds.

The cottage was deserted; but outside the back door they found Maddox asleep in a chair, and his little grand-daughter Peggy hard at work by his side.

Peggy rose, and curtsied in a very pretty manner. Then having roused the old man, by telling him that ’squire Ashley was come, she sat down again to her needle. But master William, who was very fond of her, begged she would leave her work while they stayed, and look after the birds with them. On a grass plot close to the cottage there were three or four hens under baskets; and they had each a little brood belonging to them, which the Bensons mistook for bantams. But Peggy said they were young pheasants; their eggs they often set under hens, as they made the best mothers of any fowl.

“Are these all we are to see?” inquired Arthur.

“No, sir,” replied Peggy; “we have many that are full grown; only they are now scattered about, and hid among the bushes. I’ll call them.”

She then fetched out a pan with some of their food, which she scattered over the grass, calling at the same time in a particular manner. Presently several pheasants came from their hiding-places. They were rather shy at first; but by degrees they ventured nearer, and at last began to eat the food that was thrown to them. The boys admired their beauty. The plumage of some was of a fine gold colour, variegated with streaks of purple and green. These they learnt were called gold pheasants. The silver pheasants were very handsome, although not quite so showy. They were of a clear white, streaked likewise with purple on the neck and breast. The common pheasant was not equal in beauty to these; but it had notwithstanding a great variety of colours, and was remarkably brilliant.

“What do you feed them with?” asked Charles.

“Ants’ eggs and curds are most proper for them,” said Peggy: “but they will eat oats and barley; and they pick up wood-lice, and earwigs, and other insects.”

A loud squalling now diverted the attention of the little party to another object. They looked up, and saw it proceeded from a peacock, which was perched on the top of a high tree.