252 EXPERIENCES OF SPORT. 



Eggs from plieasantries should be collected 

 every day, and the outlying covers and hedge- 

 rows carefully looked after by your keeper or 

 watchers. Pheasants often lay in curious places, 

 and where you least expect to find nests. 



I once knew of a nest under one of the 

 sleepers of a railway, and where the trains were 

 hourly going over, but she hatched all off and 

 went away with them. 



Your setting hens should be small and light 

 game hens crossed with the bantam are the 

 best they set well, are not too heavy, and are 

 good mothers ; there should be no feathers 

 about their legs, if there are they often get wet, 

 and frequently, from the mud and dirt which* 

 -collects on them, drag the eggs off the nest and 

 spoil them. 



Set your hens a few days on a chalk egg or 

 two to be certain they are thoroughly broody ; 

 when you are sure that such is the case, put 

 fifteen or sixteen good eggs under each hen, 

 carefully noting the day you set them. 



The greatest attention must be paid when 

 your hens are hatching off; if the chicks do not 

 all come at once, those out first should be taken. 



