IQ4 Practical Game Preserving. 



high, and i8in. deep, and be divided into two equal parts 

 by wood as thick as that of the outside, provided with a 

 round hole in the centre four inches from the bottom. This 

 hole should be capable of being closed by a disc of wood, 

 which, working on a screw, can be moved over or above 

 it. The sleeping compartment, for preference on the right 

 side, is provided with a door of wood, having a square hole 

 equal to half its surface cut out and covered on the outside 

 by a sheet of the finest perforated zinc. The centre dividing 

 board projects to the level of this door, which fits in on one 

 side, and is fastened by a small bolt. The top of the sleeping 

 compartment has small holes bored through it, about three 

 inches apart, and all over. The feeding compartment is 

 closed by a door, consisting of a frame of wood, the side- 

 pieces of which are 2in. in width. The aperture is covered 

 by small rods of iron or stout wire, Jin. apart, running from 

 top to bottom. The top of the breeding compartment is 

 in a single hutch bored through, in each of a series, covered 

 in similar manner to the door of perforated zinc. The end 

 or side is formed in the last fashion described. The bottom 

 is entirely of wood. 



The great disadvantage of most hutches is that the bottom 

 and the portions of the sides adjacent become saturated with 

 offensive moisture : and in order to prevent this the inside of 

 the box must, on the bottom and sides, be either painted 

 with three coats of impermeable paint, or treated in a corre- 

 sponding manner with Portland cement and water, mixed to 

 a consistency which allows of its being laid on with a paint 

 brush. This is the only satisfactory preventive ; for, 

 although a bottom of wire or perforated zinc will allow of 



