SELECTING HENS FOR HATCHING. 109 



many of which, possess -greater advantages than Elsenham, 

 disease has been most prevalent, and, of course, there is always 

 the danger of birds suffering from the typhoid epidemic 

 coming into the coverts, and tainting the soil by their 

 excrement. 



It is hardly necessary to state that great care is taken in 

 selecting broody hens. No fowls with the infectious skin 

 disease known as " favus " are ever chosen, and hens with 

 scurfy legs, which invariably infect the young pheasants, are 

 rejected. The result of the sanitary precautions dictated by 

 common sense is that, though a very large number of birds are 

 reared on the estate, infectious enteritis has never appeared 

 amongst them, and the birds, bred naturally, are strong, 

 hardy, and vigorous. 



This method may be contrasted with that pursued by 

 another well-known breeder, who proceeds on a very different 

 system. I allude to that which has been recommended by 

 Mr. Christopher W. Wilson, of Rigmaden Park, Westmorland, 

 of keeping laying pheasants in small movable pens, which can 

 be easily shifted so as to be over fresh ground. These pens 

 are made with close sides of thin ^in. boards, the exact 

 dimensions being 9ft. square and 3ft. high, and covered at 

 the top with 2^in. string netting. Into each is placed a cock 

 pheasant and six hens. No further shelter was provided as 

 the exposure to the rain is, as is well known, not injurious to 

 these birds. The eggs are collected every time the birds are 

 fed, and the pens are shifted daily on to fresh ground. 



The plan is said to have proved exceedingly successful, 

 one breeder, who has used the method for seven years, 

 obtaining 40,000 eggs from pens each containing six hens and 

 a cock. 



The advantage of making these pens of thin light wood is 

 manifest. They are cheaper to construct, costing only 10s. 

 each complete ; the sides, when the pens are taken to pieces 

 for storage during the winter, occupy much less space, and 

 the wood, being thin, does not absorb so much water during 



