PHEASANTS. 307 



number of eggs being provided, put them under a hen 

 that has kept her nest for three or four days ; and, if 

 two or three hens happen to sit on the same day, an 

 opportunity will be afforded of shifting the good eggs. 

 At the end of ten or twelve days, examine, and throw 

 away those that are bad, and set the same hen or hens 

 again, if sitting hens should be numerous. The hens- 

 having sat their full time, such of the young Pheasants 

 as are already hatched must be put into a basket, with a 

 piece of flannel, till the hen has done hatching. Then 

 place the whole brood under a frame, with a net over it, 

 and a covered place for the hen, so as to confine her, 

 but leave the young Pheasants at liberty to leave or re- 

 turn to her at pleasure. Their food must consist of 

 boiled eggs cut small, boiled milk and bread, alum curd, 

 and ants' eggs, a little of each, and often. Rice may 

 be also given, softened by boiling ; and instead of ants' 

 eggs, which in some places are not easily procured, or 

 in addition to them, maggots from decayed flesh may 

 be used. Artificial ants' eggs may be easily made, com- 

 posed of flour, beaten up with an egg and shell together, 

 and the pellets rubbed between the fingers to a proper 

 size. 



After two or three days, they will be acquainted with 

 the call of their foster-mother, and they may then be 

 allowed to run upon a grass-plot, or elsewhere ; the edge 

 of a corn-field is very desirable, as they like the tall 

 stems, and soon learn to pick up the green grains, 

 taking care to shift them with the sun, and guard them 

 from cold winds. They ought not to be released in the 

 morning before the sun is up, and they must be shut in 

 with the hen in good time in the evening. When they 

 are old enough, those that are to be turned out wild 

 ought to be taught to perch. This is done by tying a 

 string to the hen's leg, and obliging her to sit in a tree 

 all night. She should be placed there before sunset, 

 and, if she falls down, she must be perseveringly replaced, 

 till she become contented with her situation ; then the 



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