BIRDS ON THE HALVES. 51 



more consideration. AYe have known some cases of a 

 man signing an agreement rashly, and afterwards 

 finding that he was liable to replace, out of the feather 

 money, any deaths, not by birds of the same age as 

 those he took over, but by birds of the same age as 

 those that died; whilst he was getting no interest on 

 the increased value of the remainder : so that since tlie 

 birds would give about the same feather return the 

 first year as the last, any death the first year would 

 only take about £20 of the feather money to make 

 good ; whilst the last year, since he would have to 

 make good a four-year-old bird, it would take £50. 

 So that, although he might do well the first two years, 

 if he had many deaths the last two he would be 

 ruined. In fact, if he had only ordinary luck with 

 them, he would find at the end of his term he had 

 cleared nothing. 



But we do not advise either party to have any- 

 thing to do with replacing the birds that die. Let 

 them be paid for, as they die, out of the feather 

 money; and when a number are dead, it is open for 

 them to make a fresh agreement for another lot. This 

 keeps the transaction simple, whilst the otlier will be 

 found in practice to open the flood-gates to trickery 

 and misunderstanding. We here give an agreement 

 on this plan : — 

 E 2 



