THE PHEASANT 275 



have well-drained, porous soil, and which face to the 

 south or south-west. This fact will lead the keeper to 

 understand that he must on no account select ground 

 which is cold or damp, which is exposed to the north or 

 the east, and which is dark and dreary. The law which 

 applies to pheasantries also applies to the ground on 

 which the coops are placed. 



The food of the penned hens should be of soft con- 

 sistency the ordinary poultry food (barley-meal and 

 biscuit-meal) in the morning, and dry mixed grain in the 

 afternoon. Some green food should be given occasion- 

 ally. All food, whether for old birds or for young, should 

 be mixed in the morning. On no account should the 

 keeper perform this duty at nighttime. Stale food is a 

 marked cause of disease. Too much maize should not 

 be used, it makes the birds heavy, yellow-fleshed, and 

 not agreeable to eat vary feeding with light barley and 

 oats and very little maize. 



Great care should be taken that the ground of the 

 pheasantries (and likewise the ground on which the 

 coops are placed) is free from vermin, and is not allowed 

 to stale. I n the case of the pens and mews, these should 

 bepurifiedbyasprinklingof lime and sand, and if feasible 

 the ground should be changed every few years. Stale 

 ground is an important cause of mortality. Some 

 authorities recommend that powdered oyster shells 

 be placed in every pen. 



About the beginning of April the keeper begins to 

 collect his eggs, and he will continue to do so for about 



