62 PRACTICAL PHEASANT REARING. 



marked disgust ; but no matter, camphoric must their 

 beverage be. It is a real preventive of gapes, of 

 which, as in most other matters, prevention is easier, 

 far easier, than cure. As to the old hens, if the 

 mornings be dewy they will do very well, particularly 

 if the coops are shifted a bit now and then ; but in 

 very hot dry weather a little pure water may be 

 put into their coops and left there for a short time, 

 the youngsters being meanwhile sent out to play. 

 Should the young birds develop symptoms of cold 

 i.e., a slight discharge from the nostrils, which may 

 develop into roup the camphor water for those 

 affected should be changed for some strengthening 

 medicine, in addition to the improvement of and 

 change in the consistency of the food provided for 

 them, which will be alluded to in a succeeding 

 chapter. This " tonic " should take the form of 

 sulphate of iron, given in the water in the proportion 

 of one drachm to a pint of water ; indeed, without 

 the appearance of any disease, this forms an excellent 

 change during the prevalence of any extra bad 

 unfavourable weather. Again, let me repeat that 

 for site nothing will be found to equal a field which 

 has been well fed down early and close. Let the 

 grass grow with the birds ; it will afford them, as 

 they need it, protection and shelter. On a level field, 

 with a smooth sward, the poults will always be 

 exposed to an equable temperature, which is a pre- 

 ventive of the cramp another fatal disorder, very 



