FEEDING ADULT BIRDS IN COVERT 



in a covert is shown in the accompanying illustration. The 

 author strongly recommends gamekeepers to have a number 

 of these stacks about their coverts, particularly during severe 

 weather, so that a portion can be pulled out and scattered as 

 required. 



In addition to dry grain a liberal allowance of roots and 

 other vegetables are requisite and invaluable owing to the 

 amount of water that they contain ; in fact, any shortage of 

 water can be in part supplanted by a plentiful supply of such 

 vegetable matter. 



As already stated, a free supply of water is a sine qua 

 non for keeping Pheasants for covert, though various con- 

 trivances are employed as receptacles for water. Of what- 

 ever nature these are, the keeper should see that they are 

 kept well filled. 



Most game-food firms, as well as manufacturers of poultry 

 and Pheasant appliances, are vendors of water fountains, but 

 the choice of such is more a matter for individual consideration. 



With regard to the method in which grain, etc., is 

 supplied to birds, there are many ingenious contrivances 

 on the market, and some of these are shown in the chapter 

 dealing with " Appliances of the Pheasantry." Many keepers 

 scatter their grain over a wide area of ground, so as to 

 give the birds plenty of occupation, and the only pre- 

 caution that is necessary, when food is supplied in this 

 manner, is to guard against fouling of the ground, which 

 can be done by shifting the situation of the feeding area. 



The straying of hand-reared Pheasants is often due to 

 the older birds setting a bad example to the younger ones, 

 as the former may easily find their way back to covert, 

 whereas the latter, thus decoyed, may be unable to do so. 

 By driving deserters into covert with a dog, a lesson may be 

 taught, as fright certainly constitutes one measure of prevention. 



