OTHER FOREIGN GALLINACEOUS SPECIES 97 



do this in a larger fenced field. On the other hand, the 

 young will thus grow up as shy as the parents. So if it 

 is desired to secure tamer stock which will breed better in 

 confinement, and be more inclined to stay on the land where 

 they were raised, it is well to rear the young with bantams. 



German System. In Germany, on game preserves, where 

 there are plenty of these partridges in the wild state, they 

 have a very effective system for large increase of their num- 

 bers. It is also used with another species, called there 

 "wachtel," comparable to our bob-white, and it would be 

 well worth trying out in America in connection with quail 

 propagation, especially on Southern preserves where the 

 birds breed commonly. It was described to me in detail by 

 Ludwig Seidler. 



The unit of the system is a five-acre fenced field. Vermin 

 has been thoroughly trapped in the vicinity, and a fence 5 

 feet high is used. The ground should be arable agricultural 

 land, and it is fully planted with various garden crops best 

 adapted to supplying both vegetable and insect food to 

 young birds. While these are growing, nests with eggs are 

 hunted out afield. Trained dogs are used to locate them 

 and rewards are offered or finding them. Only fresh sets 

 are taken, so that the birds will lay again. It is preferred to 

 find the nest while the bird is still laying, in which case a 

 couple of eggs are left in the nest, and the birds will often 

 continue laying indefinitely, as the eggs are regularly re- 

 moved. These eggs are hatched in incubators, and the 

 chicks are then given to bantams which are kept sitting for 

 that purpose. Of course the bantams could be used to 

 hatch the eggs if desired, which is preferable if there are 

 enough bantams on hand 



After the young have learned the call of the hen they are 

 placed with her in a coop in the cultivated enclosure and are 



