CHAPTER V. PHEASANTS. 



DISEASES. 



r~PHE majority of the diseases from which pheasants suffer 

 JL limit their attacks, for the most part, to hand-reared 

 birds, and that whilst in the earlier stages of existence. These 

 diseases are chiefly epidemic in character ; and result, more 

 or less directly, from unfavourable conditions of weather. 

 In its natural state, or, we should rather say, when reared 

 in a natural manner, unaffected by any help from the hands 

 of man, the pheasant is an extremely hardy bird, and very 

 free from disease more so, probably, than any other of our 

 game birds ; but this hardiness is, to a large extent, brought 

 about at the expense of the weaker birds, hatched out in the 

 natural broods, for unless they are well up to the standard 

 of excellence of strength and constitution, they soon lose 

 the necessary maternal care, are neglected, and die. Con- 

 sequently, only the strong, healthy chicks are reared, 

 resulting in hardy birds eventually. With coop-reared 

 pheasants the case is altered. The weakly and sickly birds 

 are helped on with the rest, and if there be a chance of 

 any disease or ailment, these unfortunate youngsters are 



