VHI. PHEASANT REARING (PART VII} 125 



The other ailments young pheasants are chiefly 

 liable to are cold, roup, cramp, and inflammation of 

 the eyes. All these illnesses are the result of a wet 

 soil, and, like the gapes, oftenest occur in a clay 

 country. 



Though a damp rearing field will not have been 

 selected originally, yet it may become so from ex- 

 cessive rain, and your only chance is to move the 

 birds, if you can, to a higher and better drained field; 

 then place in the coops at night old dry sacks doubled 

 into mats for them to sleep on, and put a pinch of 

 cayenne pepper, as a stimulant to warmth, into their 

 soft food. Whenever you notice the chicks refuse to 

 feed and present a drooping, ruffled appearance, con- 

 sequent on cold, or the ailments that follow cold and 

 wet, the first action to take is to tempt them to feed 

 again ; for if they can only be induced to feed as they 

 should, their health and strength is soon regained. 



Now is the moment to offer them dainties, in the 

 shape of ants' eggs or maggots ; as, unless a bird 

 is in a hopeless condition (when it had better be 

 destroyed) it will take to these with avidity, when 

 all other food is refused. 



If you have ants' eggs in the locality, throw these 

 to the birds ; if you have no ant heaps handy, give 

 maggots. 



Producing maggots is an unpleasant business, but 

 this food is sometimes invaluable. 



