CHAPTER XXI 



Pheasantry Eggs versus Wild Ones 



This is a subject of considerable importance to game-rearers, 

 and one that has been, and still is, a constant source of 

 argument, there being no end of contributions in the various 

 journals devoted to the preservation of game. Some game- 

 keepers are strongly in favour of pheasantry eggs, whereas 

 others prefer eggs gathered from birds under natural 

 conditions. 



Although the Pheasant readily adapts itself to environ- 

 ment, it must be borne in mind that the nearer such 

 approaches are to the original state the more complete 

 the ultimate results. Virility is strengthened by natural 

 conditions, and it must stand as an incontrovertible fact 

 that the chicks produced from wild Pheasants' eggs, and 

 reared naturally, are stronger than those raised in an 

 artificial manner. Eggs derived from wild birds and then 

 hatched by hens and subsequently reared under artificial 

 conditions are, most certainly in the writer's opinion, superior 

 to those produced in the pens from penned birds. Every 

 game-preserver knows perfectly well that any misfortune 

 arising during the hatching process of such eggs — i.e., the 

 wild ones — is accidental and has no connection whatever 

 with the manner in which the eggs have been produced. 

 If plenty of hen Pheasants are left in the coverts, which 

 there ought to be in every well-regulated game preserve, 

 eggs will be produced under natural conditions, and when 



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