THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



he devoted much of his leisure hours to watching the operations 

 of Perren, the head keeper, in breeding and feeding pheasants, 

 of which tliere were, at that time, but few on Mr. Raby's estates, 

 or, indeed, on any other in the county. Now, Perren was clever 

 in this branch of his calling ; and a few of his maxims were so 

 well worthy of imitation, that his young master cherished them 

 throuo;h life. Among-st them were the following : — 



' In a young breeding-stock, never leave more than one cock 

 to seven hens, or as near to that proportion as you can. 



' When the hen pheasant is laying, or sitting, hang a bit of 

 red cloth, or a few links of iron chain, near her nest, and no fox 

 will molest her. 



' Have a few patches of buck- wheat sown on the borders of 

 covers intended as pheasant preserves. They operate like the 

 salt-box in the dovecot, in attaching the birds to the spot. 



' When you feed in the winter, beans are the most economical 

 food, because the small birds cannot eat them, as they do the 

 lesser grain. The small tick-bean is the best. 



' The most dangerous time for pheasants, from the attacks of 

 vermin, such as foxes, etc., is after a wet night in the moulting 

 season. They are then naturally weak, and their wings being 

 heavy from rain, they do not rise so quickly as at other times. 

 They should now be watched. 



' When rearing pheasants by hand, observe the following 

 rules : During the first month, feed with hard egg and ants' 

 eggs, but give nothing to drink. Feed early, but don't let the 

 young birds go abroad until the dew has quite disappeared. 

 Keep them very clean, and shut up at sunset, 



' Second month : — Feed on wheat, barley, and ants' eggs. 

 Being now subject to vermin, let them be supplied with sand 

 to roll in ; and if the pip seizes them, rub their bills with garlic, 

 finely bruised, in tar. 



'Third month: — When the new tail-feathers appear, danger 

 is always at hand. Give them plenty of ants' eggs, and put 

 them out, by day, on a white clover field, but not exposed to sun. 

 You may give them white clover-seed, mixed with other grain.' 



Our hero being observed, on one of the subsequent evenings, 

 by Mr. Egerton, in earnest conversation with his father, in the 

 drawing-room, was thus addressed by him : — -' What is in the 

 wind, now, Francis ? I perceive you have been coaxing your 

 father for somethinr/.' ' Why, sir,' replied Frank, ' Jem Perren 



