226 PHEASANTS 



the same hereditary tendencies to adapt 

 themselves to their surroundings that we 

 may notice in natives of the place. This 

 consideration becomes important where 

 special qualities are required to make a 

 success of the struggle for existence ; thus 

 in wet or cold climates young birds must 

 have increased powers of resistance and a 

 marked ability to shift for themselves, 

 qualities only to be gained by long 

 residence, while, in hunting countries, 

 birds of a strain long subject to the tender 

 mercies of the fox should show an early 

 disposition to roost out of harm's way. 



The keeper of experience rightly makes 

 use of the produce of the game-farm to 

 supplement, but not entirely to supplant, 

 the efforts of his own birds. 



While most are agreed on the advisa- 

 bility of keeping pheasants in confinement 

 as the main source of supply for the eggs 

 they require, there is much diversity of 

 opinion about the best method to employ. 

 Some including perhaps most of the 

 keepers on big shoots favour the use of 



