ii. PHEASANT REARING (PART /) 35 



The result of this battling among the cocks is, 

 that the victors strut off with larger harems than they 

 are entitled to or can manage, and march their 

 ladies away as far as they can from the scene of 

 strife, perhaps to a neighbour's, or, worse still, to 

 unpreserved ground. 



Feed your coverts more than usual for February, 

 March, and April that is, in proportion to the stock 

 of hens. From May to October the birds will obtain 

 plenty of food without trouble in the fields ; then, 

 when winter sets in and the land is profitless to them, 

 they will recollect their former supply of corn in the 

 woods, and draw home again to shelter and food. 



PURCHASING EGGS FROM DEALERS 



In case you decide to do this to raise a new stock 

 of pheasants every year, as may be necessary on an 

 estate that has not an aviary, or on which the wild 

 hens cannot be safely kept in the coverts all the year 

 round, I will note a few directions to adhere to. 



(1.) Purchase the eggs from the nearest trustworthy 

 dealer to your preserves. Do not believe it when you 

 are told that pheasant eggs are not liable to de- 

 terioration for hatching by being thumped about on 

 a journey. Because the eggs are not broken on their 

 arrival, it is no proof they are in good condition and 

 have not suffered damage. Nor, if you fail in hatch- 

 ing and rearing from bought eggs, is it a proof of bad 



D 2 



