CHAPTER X. 



CATCHING THE YOUNG POULTS, MISCELLANEOUS 

 REMARKS, AND A FEW WORDS ON TURKEYS. 



Sum up at night what thou hast done by day, 

 And in the morning what thou hast to do. 



GEORGE HERBERT (The Temple, Stanza 76). 



WILL NOW devote my attention to com- 

 menting upon, or replying to, some of the 

 more pertinent remarks and questions with 

 which I have been favoured by various 

 unknown correspondents, as to the different branches 

 of the subject which have already been touched upon. 

 It is very necessary to have the bottom of the nest, 

 in which the hen is put to hatch out her pheasants' 

 eggs, nicely moulded or beaten out into a cup form. 

 If a lump of any irregularity is allowed to exist, the 

 eggs get rolled outside the hen, and are only half sat 

 upon, and consequently are deprived of that warmth 

 which is their due. To put the nests into shape, we 

 use an instrument similar to a large skittle peg, with 

 a rounded end. This can be conveniently held in 

 both hands, and the hay, sage grass, or whatever 

 material you use for the nests above the green sod, 

 easily stamped into a true hollow. 



