THE EGGS AND HATCHING APPLIANCES. 23 



not obtain plumage until second autumn do not breed 

 till the following spring. 



SETTING THE EGGS. 



Having your hens all comfortable and quiet in their 

 temporary homes, the bottom layer of which should 

 be a turf pressed into cup shape, then some soft hay 

 or, better still, what is called " sage " grass a nice, 

 fine, silky material, easily found in some one of your 

 damper coverts ; and remembering that a hen will 

 shift sand or soil by her scratching, but can make no 

 impression upon a good firm green sod, which there- 

 fore forms the best foundation for your living 

 incubator, you may now turn your attention to 

 receiving and unpacking the eggs, of the dispatch of 

 which, should you not have sent a man to travel in 

 their company, you will most probably be apprised by 

 a telegram. Be sure to meet the baskets of eggs as 

 they arrive at the station ; help them out tenderly 

 from the guard's van with your own hands, and leave 

 them not at all to the tender mercies of the somewhat 

 violent, though, on the whole well-meaning, " British 

 porter of the platform." Having got the eggs home 

 in a spring cart, carefully unroll each egg from its 

 mossy envelope, examine every one carefully to see if 

 there be any cracked these should be returned 

 immediately to the game farm whence the eggs 

 emanated, and fresh and sound ones demanded in 



