46 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



as with the adults, it is possible to confine them under 

 proper conditions. Hence the safest way is to give the 

 young ones liberty till they are fully grown. 



Critical Period. The time when young quails are most 

 liable to epidemics of the dreaded enteritis is from late 

 August for about a month, when the first fall rains and cool 

 nights test their vitaHty. Disease starts with weaklings, 

 but becomes epidemic, like cholera. If a number were 

 penned together at the time of such an outbreak, the pesti- 

 lence would probably sweep the whole flock. Hence it is 

 safer to wait till they show signs of wandering off before 

 enclosing them. Also safety suggests putting no partly 

 grown young with the adult stock or with mature young, 

 lest they sicken and contaminate those safely raised. Let 

 the late broods run free with the hens till cold weather, or 

 else give them separate enclosures, with wings trimmed if 

 the pen is not covered. 



Clipping Wings. Another point which needs to be further 

 worked out is to what extent it is advisable to chp the wings 

 of young birds Hke quails which are susceptible to the in- 

 testinal trouble. Flight is very active exercise and tends to 

 keep a bird in health and vigour. Depriving it of power 

 to fly during the growing period might make it less 

 able to combat contagion when a considerable number are 

 together. To trim a wing does not harm them when they 

 have range, but it renders them unable to escape from 

 enemies. 



In the case of pheasants in a rearing-field, Evans is able 

 to control them through only a slight temporary impeding 

 of their power of flight by cHpping only the first three or 

 four primaries, as will be explained later. Quails can be 

 controlled in the same way, but the temptation must be 

 carefully guarded against keeping too many in the same 



