NATURAL HATCHING. 107 



the parents beginning to sit before tlie other, when it 

 is only the last laid eggs that are not addled. In these 

 cases, the less the birds are visited or noticed in any- 

 way the better, as also in the frequent cases (especially 

 with young pairs) where the cock will not sit at all ; 

 this latter is, I believe, almost invariably caused by the 

 birds being artificially fed, and the camps being near 

 the homestead or road^ or where the cock gets teased, 

 and consequently too excited to sit. 



The other great cause of failure is the nests 

 getting full of water in wet weather. When this 

 happens the eggs never come out well; but this 

 with proper care should never happen. As soon as 

 two or three eggs are laid, a round hole, two yards 

 wide and eighteen inches deep, should be dug close 

 to the nest, the excavated ground being thrown up 

 in a heap, and the hole filled in level with coarse sand 

 or gravel. A few days afterwards the eggs should be 

 moved on to it ; then all fear of rain is over. The 

 waiting a few days before moving the eggs is to avoid 

 the risk of the hen taking fright. Making the hole so 

 broad is to prevent the birds throwing up dirt amongst 

 the sand with their bills, as they invariably will do 

 if the sand does not extend beyond their reach as 

 they sit. 



Birds vary much in their habits in sitting ; some 



