56 PRACTICAL PHEASANT REARING. 



a nice little distraction, and, after having been 

 thoroughly and probably manually overhauled, a 

 pleasant subject for discussion during the walk home, 

 and afterwards friends and neighbours will be sent 

 out to see the "dear little birds," whose habit it is 

 unfortunately to crouch timidly in a tussock and sub- 

 mit whilst very young to be uncomplainingly trampled 

 out of existence. Lovers are the only outside parties 

 that, if I were a keeper, or a keepers cub in charge, 

 I should without hesitation invite to make use of a 

 right of way as often as they pleased. They have 

 hteir own business to attend to, and it is of such 

 importance that they stick to the pathway to discuss 

 it, and look neither to the right nor left. 



Clear the sparrows off in the neighbourhood of 

 your field ; a train of chaff and corn mixed, and a few 

 dust shot cartridges, will soon accomplish their immo- 

 lation. Sparrows are, as elsewhere, out of place 

 among the coops, and the young birds suffer from 

 eating their droppings. For the same reason, also, 

 be very careful to keep the bottom bar of your coops 

 constantly brushed over and clean ; for any oppor- 

 tunity of getting at any sort of dropping should be as 

 much as possible denied to your young charges. 



If you have any tame foxes about, there is but one 

 thing to be done, and that is to wire out your field 

 with wire netting six feet high, and of a good stout 

 gauge, or they will gnaw through it when you are 

 asleep. Larch poles, sawn in half, will do for the 



