MANAGING THE SITTERS. 95 



its supports ,s shown at u, it having been set in the 

 stonework when the wall was built. The doors in front 

 of the nests are of wire work, the mesh being one inch, 

 to keep out rats, attached to a light wooden frame, d l 

 showing a closed door, and d 2 one which is open; b is a 

 nest with its front exposed as it would be for gathering 

 eggs or for other purposes. One side of the wooden rim 

 four inches wide, which surrounds the nest on four sides, 

 is represented at z. Wire work, two-inch mesh, separat- 

 ing the roost from the alley, is seen at g g. Compare 

 this cut with Figs. 25, 26, 27 and 29. 



As was hinted before, when we were describing the reg- 

 ular daily program of the management of sitters, if there 

 w r ere many fowls to be lifted from their nests the task 

 would be an onerous one. Not only do we propagate a 

 sitting breed exemplary in all motherly conduct, and 

 cull and reject obstinate laggards, but whenever we do 

 have to catch, a bird which overdoes the virtue of con- 

 stancy, the conveniences must be such as to reduce the 

 bother to the very minimum. Below the aperture, r, is 

 seen the edge of the roost floor, s, upon which the delin- 

 quent bird is placed after she has been taken from the 

 nest. When the nest, #, is opened, r is opened also. 

 Take the fowl in both hands, with the thumbs confining 

 her wings, and place her on the floor, s. Elsewhere 

 an entirely different method of handling a sitter is 

 described, one hand only being employed, and her wings 

 being left free, which is the way to proceed when the 

 bird is to be lowered and placed on the floor at your feet, 

 but not the correct way when she is to be raised and put 

 through a small door. The distance between b and r is 

 small, which expedites the operation, and also both of these 

 are within easy reach, b being 2 1-2 ft., and s 5 1-2 ft. 

 above where the attendant stands. The trap-setter 

 shaft is 7, and m the layer nest shaft, correctly repre- 

 sented as being one but slightly higher than the other. 



