^4 NEST EGGS, 



ing eggs : how far this may be true, I know 

 not, but some judgment is undoubtedly to 

 be exercised in gathering them. If they are 

 sought after in a noisy and boisterous man- 

 ner, and at irregular periods, the fowls are 

 unnecessarily frightened, fly off, and not un- 

 frequently break the egg, perhaps just ready 

 to be excluded, which sometimes produces 

 a fatal disease. The best time for gathering 

 eggs must be regulated by the season. In 

 summer, they should be gathered early in 

 the morning, and in winter, just before the 

 fowls go to roost. Where noxious vermin 

 abound, it is the better practice to collect 

 them at all seasons in the afternoon. 



We have elsewhere stated the proper size 

 of nests, which should be a foot square, and 

 about six inches deep. Instead of fixed 

 nests, Cobbett recommends small shallow 

 baskets, which can be taken down frequent- 

 ly and washed. They may be placed, he 

 says, against the sides of the house, upon 

 pieces of wood nailed up for that purpose. 

 I should apprehend some difficulty in re- 

 taining them securely in their position, and 



