Ptactical Bird-Keeping.



3 ! 5



this extensive order, notably, Mr. Seth-Smith's upon the Ouails

and Hemipodes, and as I do not wish to go over old ground, I

will confine myself in the main either to such species as are less

often kept, or in the Management of which special difficulties

appear to have presented themselves.


As a preliminary, I would remark that, in the Management

of Birds of this Order, much will depend upon the character of

the soil upon which the birds are to be kept.


Many of the difficulties which beset the aviculturist who

aspires to keep the more tender species, disappear if he is so

fortunate as to possess aviaries or enclosures upon a light soil,

in the composition of which sand and gravel predominate.

This applies more particularly to aviaries. In these the birds

necessarily ‘work’ the same piece of ground very intensely—

Especially up and down the boundaries, whether of wire netting

or other material, they are apt to make runs and paths wdiich,

if the soil be stick)', seriously affects the beauty of their plumage.

It is a sad sight to see a fine Reeves or Amherst Pheasant trailing

his train feathers in the mud as he fidgets up and down the fence

cf his run.


When I was experimenting with Partridges, with a view

of getting them to lay in pens (for sporting purposes) on a system

elaborated on a shooting in Central France, I found that one

feature was that the pens should be circular, with no angle, and

with the bushes or other cover in the centre and open space all

round. This tended to check this habit of restlessly running up

and down, turning always at the same spot, a very important

point if the captive be a long-tailed pheasant, who often treads

upon his own tail as he turns at a right-angled corner.


If I were ever to keep pheasants in aviaries or small pens

I should certainly make the fence of the runs, where the birds

chiefly take their exercise, round, or half-moon shape. Their

plumage would certainly last much better, and the extra trouble

involved would be well repaid, especially where the soil was

strong.


But to keep some game-birds in health, not only is a

light soil desirable, but ample space is absolutely essential.

Capercaillies, for instance, and to a lesser degree, Blackgame,



