CHAPTER III. 



USINCx ARTIFICIAL EGGS. 



He who understands how to use artificial eggs 

 may prevent a lot of losses w^here foxes have to 

 be reckoned with, for by their aid both partridges 

 and pheasants may be induced to choose safer 

 sites for their nests. The latter birds adopt a 

 nest in which they find one or two artificial eggs 

 with the greatest certainty, and quite seventy-five 

 per cent, of partridges may be trusted to do 

 likewise. However, to secure perfect success it 

 is necessary to obtain artificial eggs, which are 

 perfect imitations of real ones as regards colour, 

 shape, size, and weight. The gamekeeper uses 

 these eggs, to prevent his pheasants straying away 

 to lay, by forming nests containing one or two in 

 all fences which the birds are likely to run 

 alongside when making off from the coverts ; but 

 it is not necessary to describe here the many uses 

 to which they may be put in the game preserve. 

 Nests intended to attract pheasants should be 



