CHAr. X.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 231 



either disjointing one pinion of the bird, to 

 prevent it from flying, or of cutting the fea- 

 thers of the wing, and repeating the operation 

 when they grow. 



Efforts for the same purpose are indeed 

 continually made by fanciers and dealers ; 

 but the flesh is far inferior to that of the wild 

 bird, and we should think that unless a gen- 

 tleman wishes to replenish his coverts, or 

 stock a plantation, it is hardly worth the 

 trouble. The eggs may, however, always 

 be purchased in London about the month of 

 April ; the hen usually laying from a dozen 

 to fifteen, and many more when tamed : in- 

 deed an instance has been mentioned by 

 Moubray, of a domesticated pheasant having 

 during the season layed the unusual number 

 of seventy-four eggs. She sits rather irregu- 

 larly, and a few days longer than the common 

 hen. 



The chicks may be fed in the same manner 

 as those of the turkey and guinea-hen ; but, 

 when full feathered, if the wings be not clip- 

 ped, they will daily stray from their foster- 

 mother, and finally desert her for the neigh- 

 bouring thickets. They will not, however, 



