ii. PHEASANT REARING (PART /) 29 



bantam * to induce the bird to continue laying, and 

 then leave the nest, if it was covered up, just as you 

 found it. When you have thus made sure of seven 

 to eight eggs from a nest in a dangerous situation you 

 can afford to let it remain quiet for the bird to lay up to 

 her number, which means three or four more at most ; 

 then take all. 



It is always the hen pheasant that flies or runs 

 from her nest to avoid sudden danger as a man, 

 dog, or fox that betrays her eggs to be pilfered ; as 

 she then leaves them exposed in full view of thieving 

 birds or bipeds. 



When a nest is in a very exposed place, and 

 contains but two or three eggs, it is best to collect 

 these, destroy the nest, and give the bird a chance of 

 making a new one and laying up to her first sitting 

 in a safer position. 



If a pheasant forms her nest in a safe place as 

 inside a wood, or well concealed in a thick hedge, or 

 indeed in any position that is under your immediate 

 supervision and the nest is not likely to be robbed 

 by man or vermin, especially by rooks, do not inter- 

 fere with it. It is better policy to allow the bird to 

 lay up to her full first sitting of about twelve eggs, 

 and then for you to carry them off all at once. 



* Bantam eggs, hard boiled, and steeped in strong coffee to stain 

 them brown, make capital imitation eggs for placing in the wild 

 nests. China or glass eggs are too costly for this purpose, and may 

 also be lost or stolen. 



