132 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



ment. The keeping of a certain number of the breeding 

 pheasants in pens is productive of much good, for thereby 

 the proper proportion of hens to cocks can be main- 

 tained. There is, in addition, some economy effected in 

 the matter of food and, perhaps, also in the labour of 

 the game-watchers the latter some slight considera- 

 tion when we think of the constant source of anxiety 



COCK PHEASANT. 



the watching of considerable numbers of the nests of 

 wild game-birds must prove to the head-keeper on any 

 extensive estate during the months of April, May, and 

 June. It must not, however, be inferred that the 

 method of penning is exclusively adopted, for on most 

 estates a good proportion of hens are allowed full 

 liberty, their eggs in many instances being gathered 

 and, as already observed, hatched out under foster- 

 mothers. It is generally reckoned that wild pheasants 



