THE EING-NECKED PHEASANT. 357 



they call a vermineer, by digging a hole in a dry, sandy spot, 

 in which they place a piece of flesh, which soon gets into mag- 

 gots, with which they feed the young "birds. My own vermi- 

 neer is of much simpler and economic construction. I have an 

 earthen pan, about two feet deep, and one foot diameter, into 

 which I put some bran ; on this I place a piece of liver or 

 carrion. I cover it with a common glass cap, and place it in 

 the sun. The flesh soon gets fly-blown, and speedily creates 

 quantities of maggots, and, with a long-handled spoon, I have 

 them thrown to the young birds. They should not get more 

 than one feed of those in the day. The more varied their 

 food, and the more frequently renewed, the better. Fresh, 

 and a little at a time. The green leaves of barley are ex- 

 cellent. At three months old, feed them on barley, with 

 a little wheat, boiled carrots, or potatoes, mixed with bread- 

 crumbs. Give a small portion of boiled rice during the moult. 

 If they should get the roup, give them fresh curd every day. 

 To make alum curd, take new milk, as much as your young 

 birds require, and boil it with a lump of alum, so as not to 

 make the curd hard and tough, but custard-like. A little of 

 this curd and ant's eggs, should be given to them twice a day, 

 in addition to their other food. Keep their vessels clean ; and, 

 if the disease still continue, give them, every second day, a 

 small dose of garlic in a little fresh butter. They are subject 

 to be vent-bound, which, if not attended to, will kill them. 

 The remedy is, with a sharp scissors cut close the down or 

 feathers about the vent, and anoint it with sweet-oil, and be 

 attentive that it be kept clean, otherwise you cannot rear them; 

 but, in handling them, be particularly cautious that you do it 

 with the greatest delicacy, as the least rough handling will 

 kill them. If they have a scouring, the alum curd will 

 check it. 



There is no difficulty in breeding the common Pheasant in 

 a wild state ; but to keep them in an aviary, you will have to 



