PHEASANTS: IN PEACE in 



leaves too at the expense of those not ready. I 

 recall the case of a pheasant that was sitting on ten 

 eggs. I did not know when she would be due to 

 hatch, having found her sitting, and counted her 

 eggs when she was off to feed. However, coming 

 her way one afternoon, I was surprised to see her 

 squatting about a foot from her nest, in which were 

 nine eggs and an empty shell. She was brooding a 

 strong chick, and had left the nine eggs, chipped, 

 and each containing a live chick. Another time a 

 pheasant was sitting on her nest, in which were a 

 few eggs still to be hatched and two very newly- 

 hatched chicks, while an inch or two outside the nest 

 were three fine chicks dead and stiff. So a pheasant 

 whose eggs do not hatch out together has to choose 

 one of the two horrible horns of her dilemma. Of 

 course, should the hen decide to give her remaining 

 eggs a chance to hatch, all may go well with the 

 chicks who explore beyond her protection if the 

 weather is fine. 



Brooding or hovering, which mean protection and 

 warmth, are the secret of a chick's life in early days ; 

 the warmth of the mother's body, or of warmth 

 equal thereto, is quite as essential as suitable food. 

 Even if she hatches all her eggs, it is unreasonable 

 to expect a pheasant to rear a large brood except 

 during a spell of warm days and nights, when the 

 chicks are comparatively independent of the warmth 

 supplied by their mother. It is well known how 



