The Pheasants (Farthing Wood)
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| Name: | Mr. Pheasant / Mrs. Pheasant |
|---|---|
| Species: | Common Pheasant |
| Seasons: | 1 |
| First Appearance: | The Wood In Danger (1x01) |
| Last Appearance: | Mr. Pheasant: Snare For The Unwary (1x05), Mrs. Pheasant: False Haven (1x04) |
| Spouse: | Mrs. Pheasant / Mr. Pheasant |
| Offspring: | None |
Mr. Pheasant, and his wife, Mrs. Pheasant, are fictional characters from Colin Dann's 1979 debut novel, and subsequently appeared in the 1993 European Broadcasting Union animated series The Animals of Farthing Wood.
They belong to the species Phasianus colchicus, which is found throughout the world, although the bird was originally native to Asia. Rupert Farley provided the voice for Mr. Pheasant, along with numerous other characters in the series, including the main protagonist Fox.
Both characters only appeared up until the fourth and fifth episodes respectively, before being dramatically killed off. Despite having only appearing on-screen for a fraction of the series length, they remain memorable - general consensus among the show's fans regard their deaths to be a pity, as both were interesting characters.
[edit] Mr. Pheasant
Mr. Pheasant is a spoilt, conceited and even cowardly bird, who is rather over-proud of his plumage. He greatly depends on the care of his wife, although he never realises this until she is killed. Mr. Pheasant spends most of his time on the journey to White Deer Park complaining about often being shot at, his wife's uselessness when she tries to help, and his ruined tail feathers (which are damaged by a stray bullet exploding). Unlike the other birds, Owl and Kestrel, he prefers to take a backseat and neglect his responsibilities, often leaving them for his wife to assume.
[edit] Mrs. Pheasant
A dowdy and plain bird by comparison to her husband, Mrs. Pheasant spends her life in utter servitude to him. She seems to tolerate him, even though her duties to him do bother her. On several occasions she tries to help him, such as when she attempts to repair the damage to his plumage with feathers from Owl, but always gets her efforts thrown back in her face by her husband.
[edit] Demise
In the fourth episode of the series, "False Haven", the animals are resting in a poultry farmer's barn, and instead of assuming his role as watchman for the group, Mr. Pheasant falls sleep and leaves his wife performing his task. She shot by the farmer as she rushe to warn the others of the danger he poses. Mr. Pheasant, who knows the sound of a shotgun too well, is instantly aware of his partner's death. Although visibly upset, he later seems more concerned with how he will manage without her, rather than the fact that she is dead.
In the next episode, "Snare For The Unwary", Mr. Pheasant volunteers to return to the farm to rescue Adder, who was left behind during the animals' escape. He reasons that by returning, he can see his wife's "final resting place". However, his grief begins to grate on the others who send him on his way. When he arrives at the farm he finds Adder, but is distracted and distraught when he sees his wife's now-cooked body cooling down at the farmer's window. He does not see the farmer, who then shoots him as well.
Adder later reports that Mr. Pheasant shares his wife's fate, and is cooked for the farmer's dinner also.
