ENEMIES OF THE GAME-REARER 



Egg-eating Pheasants 



Pheasants that acquire this habit are even worse to deal 

 with than the enemies already named, because it is so 

 difficult when birds are in covert to obtain positive evidence 

 against them. There may be circumstantial evidence, and 

 when this is conjectured the best plan is to shoot the 

 offenders ; but egg-eating is common in aviaries and must 

 be dealt with accordingly. 



Penned hens when they are released to covert have 

 been known to indulge in this detestable practice, which, as 

 already stated, is one of the worst vices that a gamekeeper 

 has to contend against in the preserves. Keep all unfertile 

 eggs from year to year, and when birds begin to mutiny, 

 either in pen or covert, give them a supply of these eggs, 

 and it will be a case of "once bitten, twice shy." The 

 substitution of pot eggs is another remedy, but there is no 

 doubt that egg-eating is a vice largely fostered by insuffi- 

 ciency of food, want of grit, and idleness ; therefore these 

 facts should be borne in mind in searching for a remedy. 



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