Protecting Nests and Sitting Birds. 25 



strangeness, and a fox will brave them all when 

 he becomes accustomed to them. Therefore, 

 change the scare every few days, or alter it in 

 some way, if it is expected to remain effective. 



Every method of protecting a partridge nest 

 which has been advised is just as useful for safe- 

 guarding that of a pheasant, although the latter, 

 bird has not been quoted so often, for partridges 

 are the real anxiety in a hunting country. 

 Pheasants are so easily reared by hand that the 

 contents of nearly all their nests are collected for 

 home hatching, and certainly those from nests 

 in situations at all risky. Few are allowed to 

 remain to need protection, but where such is 

 necessary those means suggested for partridge 

 nests may be adopted with all confidence. 



It should act as a spur to a keeper when he 

 reflects that all he does to protect nests from foxes 

 is equally useful in saving them from ordinary 

 keen-nosed vermin, and also from stray dogs. 

 He should not forget that a nest which may : 

 escape a fox is likely to be interfered with by , 

 stoats or rats, and therefore each one must ; 

 receive attention. 



Although by persistent care partridges may 

 be protected during the nesting period, the broods 

 are still in danger from foxes. A brood trailing 



