FOOD MENAGERIES GREAT BREEDERS. 129 



their brood, being so naturally shy ; whence, should 

 this method be desired, they must be left entirely to 

 themselves, as they feel alarm even in being looked 

 at. Eggs for setting are generally ready in April. 

 Period of INCUBATION the same in the pheasant as 

 in the common hen. Pheasants, like the pea-fowl, 

 will clear grounds of insects and reptiles, but will 

 spoil all WALL-TREES within their reach, by pecking 

 off every bud and leaf. 



Feeding. Strict CLEANLINESS to be observed, the 

 meat not to be tainted with dung, and the water to 

 be pure and often renewed. Ants' eggs being 

 scarce, hog-lice, ear-wigs, or any insects may be 

 given ; or artificial ants' eggs substituted, composed 

 of flour beaten up with an egg and shell together, 

 the pellets rubbed between the fingers to the proper 

 size. After the first three weeks, in a scarcity of 

 ants' eggs, CASTANG gives a few GENTLES, procured 

 from a good liver tied up, the gentles, when ready, 

 dropping into a pan or box of bran ; to be given 

 sparingly, and not considered as common food. 



FOOD for grown pheasants, barley or wheat ; ge- 

 nerally the same as for other poultry. . In a cold 

 spring, HEMP SEED, or other warming seeds are com- 

 fortable, and will forward the breeding stock. 



Of the Noblemen and Gentlemen who have PRI- 

 VATE MENAGERIES for pheasants, and who are large 

 breeders, Lord BRAYBROOK, at Audley End, Essex, 

 and the Earl of JERSEY, at Osterley Park, Middle- 

 sex, are among the most eminent. At a park in 

 Middlesex, seven or eight miles beyond Bushey 

 Park, I saw, many years ago, a greater collection of 



