in. PHEASAXT REARIXG (PART II) 53 



C. Wingfield, of Onslow, Shropshire, in whose coverts 

 over 1,600 pheasants were killed last season good 

 evidence of what can be achieved on a moderate- sized 

 estate of 2,800 acres, with only 125 acres of planta- 

 tions, by the assistance of an aviary, and without 

 which aid, by reason of the clay soil, the straggling 

 shape of the estate and its unprotected surroundings, 

 it would not be possible to keep a head of wild hens 

 sufficient to collect eggs from to rear birds enough to 

 show fair sport.* 



' In the course of the last ten years (wrote the 

 Colonel) I have had 795 hen pheasants in my aviary, 

 which have laid 16,707 eggs, or an average of 21 

 each. 



' Including what I have taken out of the wild 

 nests, I have placed under hens 19,100 eggs, turned 

 into the coverts 11,545 birds, and killed 9,909. This 

 shows the number of birds killed to be a little more 

 than half the number of eggs laid. 



' I calculate that 100 pheasants in confinement 

 eat 14 Ib. of hard food a day, at a cost of ninepence. 

 A little before and during the laying season they are 

 fed on a more liberal diet of softer foods, which is 

 more expensive. I have proved by measure that the 

 value of this food, consisting of biscuit meal, British 



* If your shooting is much intersected by the land of other pro- 

 prietors, or is so small that the hen pheasants stray over its boun- 

 daries to nest, you will find an aviary especially useful, as you can 

 catch up what birds you require to stock it before the season closes, 

 and then kill down all that are left in the coverts. 



