114 PARTRIDGES 



always, make excellent foster-mothers. 

 From 15 to 20 eggs may be given to 

 each hen. 



There is always considerable risk of 

 the hen trampling on newly hatched birds 

 when they are still weak and wet. This 

 may be obviated by having an incubator 

 set up under cover close by, and, when 

 the eggs begin to chip, taking all but two 

 from the hen and putting them into the 

 incubator. The hen duly hatches her 

 two and is therefore ready to undertake 

 the charge of a family ; the remainder 

 hatch in the incubator, are kept for a 

 short time in the drying box, and are 

 given back to the hen before they have 

 reached the active and independent stage, 

 which comes almost as soon as they are 

 dry. They then go straight under the 

 hen, and she takes to them, which she 

 will not always do if they have been left 

 too long in the drying box and run off in 

 search of food. This device was originated 

 and very successfully practised by Mr. F. 

 Hawkins, head-keeper at Eynsham Hall. 



