24 Aviary Pheasants. 



pheasants will cool quickly ; but I have known a hen 

 on Amherst eggs accidentally shut off her nest for 

 upwards of an hour, and they hatched well. Un- 

 doubtedly, the nearer they are to hatching, the longer 

 time the hen may be off the eggs, for it will take a 

 long chill to destroy life when near hatching. I do 

 not like nests placed tier over tier; they are best on 

 the ground. After the first week, damp the eggs 

 when the hens have returned. Dipping a sponge in 



F:G. 6. TESTING EGGS, 



warm water, and gently passing it over them, is a 

 good plan. This causes a nice damp heat to rise, and 

 is preferable to sprinkling, unless the weather is very 

 hot. Damping the eggs when the hen is on them 

 seems most natural, and in effect is like the damp 

 breast of the mother, which in Nature has become 

 moistened with dew in her search for food. Each 

 morning, at the same time, remove the hens for 

 feeding, dusting themselves, &c. 



