346 BROADLAND SPORT 



perfectly white in colour. But on this point of food two persons 

 rarely hold the same views, each clinging to his own despite 

 the arguments of others, reminding one of Butler's lines 



"He that complies against his will 

 Is of the same opinion still." 



This diversity of opinion may be accounted for by the fact 

 that the birds require different diet according to the climate, 

 situation and surroundings in which they are being reared. 



It is always as well, however, to hear the experience of 

 others. We move with the times. The rearing of young 

 pheasants has become a science, and it has been proved by 

 the best authorities that the judicious mingling of artificial 

 food with their natural diet is not only beneficial, but, to 

 hand-reared birds, an indispensable necessity. 



Mr Balls' motto was "Try everything and decide by 

 results." 



Water is another equally debatable subject ; some give much, 

 many little, and others none at all. An unlimited supply of 

 pure spring water is correct. If it is stagnant, or open to 

 the excrement of the birds, they will be liable to gapes. Moral 

 change it as often as possible. A remedy for this is 

 dilution with camphor, or giving the birds camphor pills. 



The old and well-known cure for gapes is, of course, spirits 

 of turpentine, which is administered down the windpipe by 

 the assistance of a feather tip, but Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, in 

 his most excellent book on pheasants, gives the result of an 

 experiment with the fumes of carbolic acid as highly successful, 

 and the authority of one so experienced is well worthy of re- 

 petition. " It can easily be accomplished by putting three or 

 four drops of the carbolic acid in a spoon, holding the latter 

 over the flame of a lamp, and placing the head of the affected 

 bird in a cloud of rising vapour." In this case each bird is 

 separately treated, which means work where many are 

 affected, and, therefore, it would seem that the present 

 methods of fumigating are more easily manipulated and 

 equally effective. 



