THE REARING FIELD. 63 



prevalent, as are, indeed, most of the disorders to 

 which young pheasants are liable, upon sandy soils, 

 or upon hilly uneven ground, where the heat of the 

 soil and the cold winds soon develop its progress ; as 

 does long dank grass, and low hollows where the 

 damp is long retained, and where the birds expose 

 themselves one minute to the hot sun, and the next 

 to a chilly damp wind. So, at the risk of being con- 

 sidered tiresome, I shall again reiterate, choose a nice 

 level meadow, if possible with a good deep soil, and 

 but few rocks or banks in it. The mortality amongst 

 your young birds will otherwise be fearful, and on 

 poor wet lands not 25 per cent, are likely to attain 

 maturity, tend ye them never so carefully. Gapes, 

 roup, cramp, and blindness, those fatal scourges, 

 commit dreadful ravages, whilst damp and cold retard 

 the growth of the birds, and render them, even should 

 they live, a much greater expense, on account of 

 longer keep, before they are ready for the market. 



