20 



course preferable to breed from pure blood on 

 both sides 



Wilson ; already quoted, condemns half-bred 

 cocks altogether 



Markham's advice on the treatment of the 

 hen is worth notice : March was held the best 

 month in which to breed game-fowl ; >v one 

 March bird is ever better w r orth than three at 

 any other season." The delicate constitution 

 of the birds is insisted on ; the nest, of soft 

 and clean straw, was to be in some warm place, 

 and the hen carefully tended that she might not 

 leave her eggs too long uncovered : the chicks 

 first hatched were to be wrapped in wool and 

 kept near the fire, until the rest of the eggs 

 hatched out, when the brood was to be restored 

 to the hen, and all kept very warm, " for they 

 be so tender (delicate) that the least cold will 

 kill them " 



Hen and brood were kept indoors in a large 

 room with a boarded floor till the chicks were 

 a month old ; feeding on oatmeal, cheeseparings. 

 " chilter meat " and the like. After the first 

 month the chicks might be allowed to run in 

 some grass court, where there were no foul 

 puddles or dirty water, such being the u greatest 

 poison " to game-fowl 



