358 THE RING-NECKED PHEASANT. 



get a wire-trellis in front, sufficiently close to prevent the 

 sparrows and other birds robbing them of their food. The 

 saving of the food will very soon compensate you for the 

 wire-work, and insure your Pheasants being fed. At the top, 

 I would prefer close net-work of moderate-sized cord, well 

 painted. The reason is, if the birds get fluttered, they fly 

 straight up, and, by a dash against a hard substance, they fre- 

 quently fall dead, but by coming in contact with the net, they 

 receive no injury. Part of the aviary should be shedded, to 

 protect them from the inclemency of the weather ; and I would 

 recommend a retiring-place for the Hens to lay in, and perches 

 of about one inch diameter. I would advise the retiring-place 

 to be laid down with clean straw, but would prefer fine sand 

 for their walking-place. Wheat and barley are their best food, 

 with occasionally vegetable matter, lettuce, turnip-tops, cab- 

 bages, &c. One Cock is sufficient for three or four Hens. 



