106 PHEASANTS FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



rainj and is dried quicker by the wind and sun ; and the pens 

 are readily shifted by one person. The eggs are removed by 

 shifting the netting at the top, and taken out by means of a 

 small Sin. or 4in. landing net. 



There are many localities in which such a plan^ should it 

 be as advantageous as has been represented to me, would be 

 exceedingly convenient. It is needless to say that the sanitary 

 precaution of shifting the pens every day should be rigidly 

 insisted upon. If the ground is allowed to become foul by 

 keeping the birds on the same space for several days, disease 

 would inevitably ensue ; but, small ^s the space is, ia 

 consequence of the birds being continually over fresh, 

 untainted ground, I am assured they do exceedingly well. I 

 should have imagined that the number of birds in so small a 

 pen would have been too great, but I am told that six hens 

 have done as well in these small movable pens as a less 

 number. Although I have had no experience of this mode of 

 keeping pheasants, nor have seen it put into practice, I think 

 it is quite worthy of the attention of all pheasant rearers ; 

 therefore I have great pleasure in publishing this account. 

 It is obvious that the plan possesses one great advantage over 

 the use of large open pens — namely, it is not necessary to 

 pinion the birds or cut the wing feathers, consequently at the 

 end of the laying season they can be let out into the open with 

 full security against the attacks of dogs and foxes. The pens 

 can be strengthened by a small lath or bar screwed across 

 each corner, and to this can be tied a spruce branch, under 

 which the hens can lay, and the netting, I should have said, 

 is most readily secured by being tied down to l|in. screw 

 eyes. Another advantage arising from the plan of frequently 

 shifting the pens is that a supply of fresh grass is provided by 

 each movement. 



Many pheasant rearers are so short-sighted as to recruit 

 their stock of eggs by purchase, forgetting that in the great 

 majority of cases these eggs are stolen, either from their own 

 or from other preserves. In some cases the keepers them- 



