122 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS 



LETTEE VIII 



PHEASANT BEARING (CONCLUDED) 



THE DISEASES OF YOUNG PHEASANTS, AND THE 

 CONSTEUCTION OF PHEASANT COOPS 



GAPES. Though this horrible plague is sure to destroy 

 many birds when once present to a serious extent in 

 the rearing field, it may, however, when it first com- 

 mences, be prevented from developing further, and 

 may also be mitigated in its virulence. 



As to doctoring several hundred young pheasants 

 afflicted with this disease by clearing their wind pipes 

 of the gapeworms with feathers, wire nooses, tiny 

 spiral springs, or pieces of rough grass, and similar 

 devices, it is impossible ; though, if a keeper has but 

 a score or two birds to look after, he may make the 

 attempt. Gapes will often seize hold of the birds 

 when they no longer return to their coops at night, 

 and when capturing them with a view to treatment is 

 out of the question. 



The tight handling of a young chick will alone 

 very often injure it ; and the operation of trying to 

 extract the gapeworms is as likely to kill the bird in 

 question as to effect its cure. 



