114 PHEASANTS FOR COVERT S AND AVIARIES. 



observations of Mr. F. Crook, who states : " The fault 

 usually existing is, that an over-careful, pampering system 

 is adopted, and miserable broods are the result. I have 

 experimented in a manner which leaves no doubt upon the 

 subject. Upon one occasion I was anxious to test the fertility 

 of certain pheasants' eggs, and continued to remove the eggs 

 from a nest in the woods until I found the hen desirous of 

 sitting. I left twelve eggs in the nest, and I sat thirteen at 

 home under a hen ; the pheasant brought out twelve birds, 

 while at home I only had three miserable birds. Similar 

 results have many times occurred since. As a rule the home 

 hatching places are too confined in area, the hens are fed too 

 near the nests, and are not compelled to remain off the eggs 

 long enough, and no amount of wetting or sprinkling with 

 water, either hot or cold, recommended by some writers, will 

 compensate for a due supply of fresh air. Birds in the woods 

 select a dry spot, sheltered from the rains as much as possible. 

 Sometimes they will carry dry leaves, soft, short straw, hay, 

 and feathers ; at other times the nest is made in a hollow at 

 the root of a tree, and the eggs are laid on the loose mould ; 

 or under thick bushes, and covered with coarse grass ; but in 

 every case the nest is never stifled, having the freest circula- 

 tion of air surrounding it. If such natural precautions alone 

 are used, greater success may be looked for at home than 

 when the nests are made up in quiet, warm, small places, 

 where the birds have but little room to move, and the eggs 

 get nothing but a foetid atmosphere to destroy the life that 

 lies beneath the shell. The term of incubation of pheasants' 

 eggs varies considerably. I have hatched them at home at 

 all times from twenty-two to twenty-seven days, but in the 

 woods they invariably turn out about the twenty-fourth day. 

 Those which hatch at the most natural time of twenty-four 

 days turn out to be the finest and healthiest birds. There is 

 some care required in marking the dates and number of eggs 

 set in each nest for hatching, as by a little forethought in 

 this respect, great advantages may be obtained by saving 



