P/fEASAXrS FOR roVEETS AND AVIARIES. 



that (lisicliarged at any other time, iiivnlinitai-ily recalling 

 the smell of a I'nasted iViwl, highly and disagi-ee:il)ly intensified. 

 I helieve the explanation of the whole matter to lie as follows : 

 the suppression of the natural scent is essi_'ntiid to the safety 

 of the Idrd during in(ad)atioD ; that at such time vicarious 

 secretiini of the (jdoriferoiis jiarticles takes place into the 

 intestinal ca.nal, so that the bird becomes scentless, and in 

 this manner her safety and that of the eggs is secured. This 

 explanation would probably apply equally t<.) jjartridges and 

 other bir(ls nesting on the ground. 



The a,l)sence of scent in the sitting pheasant is most 

 probably the ex]ihina,f ion of the fact that foxes and pheasants 

 are cajiable of being I'eared in the same ]u-eserves ; at the 

 same time the keejiers are usuall\- di'sirous of nuiking 

 assurance doubly sui'e, by scaring the foxes from the 

 neighbourhood of the nests by some strong and offensive 

 suljstnnce. A very pi'acfical gamekei']")er writes as follows : — 

 "If any kee])er will liiul his nests and spriidvle a, little gas 

 tar anywhere al)out theni, he will hnd tho foxes will not take 

 the birds. 1 should, as a keeper, find evei'v nest jiossifile, and 

 dress the bushes, stum]is oi trees, Sec, m-ar the jilace of such 

 nest, and then keep away entirely till I fhonght tho bird had 

 hatched, as cmistantly haunting a Ijird's nest is the most 

 foijlish thing that can be. When such m.'sts are once found 

 and dressed, lot the keeper Irnjk out ami ti'ap all kinds of 

 vermin, such a-s t1u" cat, stoat, fitchet, weasel, hede-olioo- 

 rat, magpie, jay, ha.wk, crow, rook, or jai^kthiw. These are 

 all enenues t(j the birds, as well as the fox. I am satisfied, 

 as a gamekeeper, tlia,t with good verniin ti'apjiint;-, dressin<i- 

 near the nests, and g 1 bushing and pegging of land, any- 

 one will have plenty of game, and may still keep plenty of 

 foxes." 



Another e(pially efficacious plan, the value of which has 

 lieen repeatedly proved, is to fill a nundier of jdiiiils with the 

 so-called " (jil of animal " (.also known as oil of h:irtsliorn and 

 Dippel's oil), and snsjiend them uncorked to sticks about 



