LAYING AND HATCHING. 67 
swarm with vermin, the sitting hens become irritable and break their eggs; and 
when the young pheasants come out they are infested with fleas and pediculi, and 
nearly devoured alive. Moreover, the dry, stifling air of these places is destructive 
to the vitality of the unhatched birds, which die in the shell either before or at 
the period of hatching. Every poultry keeper knows that no nests are so prolific 
of strong healthy chickens as those that the hens “steal”? under hedges or in 
some copse or concealed cover, from whence they emerge with a strong flourishing 
brood, that puts to shame the delicate sickly youngsters reared in the close air and 
dry overheated nests of the hatching-house. The nearer we can imitate Nature the 
better—and if the hens hatching pheasants’ eggs can be set on the ground, covered 
over with a ventilated coop—more for concealment than warmth—and this sur- 
rounded by a wire run, into which the hen can come out, feed, drink, and, above 
all, dust herself, at her will, the eggs will be found to hatch out much more 
abundantly than when they are set in the vermin-infested, crowded pigeon holes 
adopted by many keepers. 
A cheaply constructed box, fifteen inches square, is shown in the woodcut. 
The nest should be on the ground, there being no bottom to the box; and if 
the sides and the wire work are sunk into the earth, and the latter is sparrow 
BOX AND RUN COMPLETE. 
and rat proof, the hen may be supplied once daily with. food and water without 
entailing any further trouble. But some dry ashes should be given in which she 
can dust herself. 
In confirmation of my views on the subject of hatching, I have much pleasure 
in quoting the following practical observations of Mr. F. Crook, who states :— The 
fault usually existing is, that an over-careful, pampering system is adopted, and 
miserable broods are the result. I have experimented in a manner which leaves no 
doubt upon the subject. Upon one occasion I was anxious to test the fertility of 
certain pheasants’ eggs, and continued to remove the eggs from a nest in the 
woods until I found the hen desirous of sitting. I left twelve eggs in the nest, and 
I set thirteen.at home under a hen; the pheasant brought out twelve birds, while 
at home I only had three miserable birds. Similar results have many times occurred 
since. As a rule, the home hatching places are too confined in area, the hens are 
fed too near the nests, and are not compelled to remain off the eggs long enough, 
and no amount of wetting or sprinkling with water, either hot or cold, recommended 
by some writers, will compensate for a due supply of fresh air. Birds in the woods 
K 2 
