128 PHEASANTS 



danger when young birds are first turned 

 into covert, before they have learnt to 

 roost out of harm's way. A wise pre- 

 caution in this regard is to buy only those 

 eggs that come from another hunting 

 country, where presumably the birds have 

 a hereditary tendency to roost in the 

 trees, ground roosting strains having long 

 since been eliminated. Tall bushes put 

 up in the rearing -field during the last 

 few weeks of the young bird's sojourn 

 there will also certainly help to teach the 

 birds to take to the trees at night when 

 they find themselves in the woods. 



At this period of their existence it 

 might be well to sprinkle the young birds 

 with some tainting fluid before turning 

 them down in covert, as this should help 

 to save them from their enemies until 

 they have learnt to fend for themselves. 

 For the same reason hens in coops about 

 the coverts are useful auxiliaries, giving 

 the alarm in time of danger. At the 

 same time maize should be reduced as a 

 diet for the young birds, for in large 



