354



Sir William Ingram,



I noticed that after the chicks were hatched the cock bird

took no further trouble in the matter, and left the hen to do all

the superintendence in the rearing line.



TEN DAYS OLD CHICK.



At eight weeks of age the young birds showed the red

markings round the eye and their throats were bare, no feathers

having replaced the down as had been the case with the rest of

the body. At four weeks of age the back was marked with

dispersed black spots, which gave the youngster a “goatsucker”

kind of appearance, and no doubt in a wild state would greatly

facilitate its concealing itself when squatting on the ground, a

habit it early developed. The little chicks at a fortnight’s age

could fly well three feet high, and from the earliest period could

run like lightning. They varied much in size, the smaller birds



THE HEN FRANCOLIN WITH HER BROOD.



