88 BIRDS 



meat should be given two or three times weekly throughout 

 the year. Green food must be supplied regularly. Chick- 

 weed, which is found universally, is the best for this pur- 

 pose, but lettuce is an efficient substitute. If grass is given, 

 it must be chopped into very short lengths, as long blades 

 are likely to form an impaction after being swallowed. Of 

 course, if the run is well grassed, this item may be omitted 

 during the summer. Grit is essential, and the drinking 

 water must be fresh and protected from the direct rays of 

 the sun. 



Each species must be kept in a separate run, as the males 

 are fierce fighters when confined together, at least when 

 females are present. A number of males of the less pug- 

 nacious species will live together in perfect harmony, but 

 if hens are introduced during the mating season disaster 

 is certain to follow. The birds are generally sold in pairs, 

 but with many species it is safer to secure at least two 

 females, as the males are very keen on persecuting their 

 mates, often pursuing them viciously, and if more hens 

 than one are present these attentions are likely to be divided. 

 For the same reason, cock and hen should never be confined 

 together in a small space. During shipment, each bird 

 should be placed in a separate compartment, the top of 

 which has been carefully padded. Although in the wild 

 state, it is probable that most of the pheasants are monog- 

 amous, in the case of the true pheasants of the Ring-neck 

 group, and also the Golden and the Lady Amherst, the 

 cocks will mate with from two to four hens. With most 

 other species, including even the Silver, while several hens 

 may be run with the cock, it will generally be found that 

 but one will lay fertile eggs, although, of course, exceptions 

 will occur. 



Most of the pheasants lay between late March and the 

 middle of June, the exact dates varying with species, indi- 



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