WATER FOR GAME-BIRDS 143 



hedges and dikes, where the wild, weedy growth 

 finds moisture for its roots and protection for 

 its top-growth. When birds are sitting, the less 

 they have to do with water the better for their 

 hopes. 



Perhaps it is better for birds to be drowned than 

 to suffer from drought. A long spell of hot weather 

 is not in itself harmful to the broods, for sunshine is 

 the essence of life in their early days ; but while 

 drought does not cause suffering through lack of 

 water, it means lack of juicy food, and that is fatal. 

 Succulent weed-seeds and grubs and insects are not 

 to be found ; the milkiness is dried out of the seeds, 

 and grubs and worms go deeply into the soil, beyond 

 scratching distance. But food enough of sorts 

 could be found during the severest drought if a little 

 water were also available. Ponds are useful only 

 to a small proportion of the broods, and become 

 waterless when drought is long enough to threaten 

 serious loss. Heavy thunder-rain after drought 

 completes the work of destruction. If it comes 

 within a fortnight of Midsummer Day, it means 

 calamity to hosts of young partridges, who may be 

 overwhelmed before they can reach their parents, or, 

 gaining that shelter, are drowned when the ground is 

 swamped. 



Many keepers never give their young pheasants 

 water until they have been removed from the rearing- 

 field to covert but their food is made dry or moist 

 according to the weather. This plan answers well 



