APPENDIX. 341 



Talking of ants' eggs, which Mr. Knox terms " the right-hand of 

 the keeper " in rearing pheasant chicks it is the first food to be 

 given to them Mr. Knox says, " Some persons find it difficult to 

 separate the eggs from the materials of the nest. The simplest mode 

 is. to place as much as may be required ants, eggs, and all in a bag 

 or light sack, the mouth of which should be tied up. On reaching 

 home, a large white sheet should be spread on the grass, and a few 

 green boughs placed round it on the inside, over which the outer 

 edge of the sheet should be lightly turned; this should be done 

 during sunshine. The contents of the bag should then be emptied 

 into the middle, and shaken out so as to expose the eggs to the light. 

 In a moment, forgetting all considerations of personal safety, these 

 interesting little insects set about removing their precious charge 

 the cocoons from the injurious ravs of the sun, and rapidly convey 

 them under the shady cover afforded by the foliage of the boughs 

 near the margin of the sheet. In less than ten minutes the work 

 will be completed. It is only necessary then to remove the branches ; 

 and the eggs, or cocoons, may be collected by handfuls, unencumbered 

 with sticks, leaves, or any sort of rubbish." 



Mr. Knox goes on to say, that " green tops of barley, leeks, boiled 

 rice, Emden groats, oatmeal, &c.," are excellent diet for the chicks, 

 but that this kind of food is "almost always given at too early a 

 period. In a state of nature, their food, for a long time, would be 

 wholly insectile." " Now, as it is not in our power to procure the 

 quantity and variety of small insects and larvae which the mother- 

 bird so perseveringly and patiently finds for them, we are obliged to 

 ha.ve recourse to ants' eggs, as easily accessible, and furnishing a 

 considerable supply of the necessary sort of aliment in a small 

 compass." 



"When the chicks are about a week or ten days old, Emden 

 groats and coarse Scotch oatmeal may be mixed with the ants' eggs ; 

 and curds, made from fresh milk, with alum, are an excellent addition. 

 If ants' nests cannot be procured in sufficient quantities, gentles 

 should occasionally be given." 



When more wasps' nests are obtained than are required for imme- 

 diate use, " it will be necessary to bake them for a short time in an 

 oven. This will prevent the larvae and nymphs from coming to ma- 

 turity, in fact, kill them and the contents of the combs will keep 

 for some weeks afterwards. Hempseed, crushed and mingled with 

 oatmeal, should be given them when about to wean them from an 

 insect diet. Hard-boiled eggs, also, form a useful addition, and 

 may be mixed, for a long time, with their ordinary farinaceous 

 food." 



" Young pheasants are subject to a kind of diarrhoea, which often 

 proves fatal. If the disease be taken in time, boiled milk and rice, 

 in lieu of any other diet, will generally effect a cure. To these chalk 

 may be added, to counteract the acidity which attends this complaint ; 

 and should the symptoms be very violent, a small quantity of alum, 

 as an astringent." 



This treatment appears reasonable. Many consider rice a judicious 



