so PHEA.'^AXT.S FOE rnVERTS AND AY I A HIES. 



the liirds and tlu-ir kei'per." Si nue writers reciiiiniieiid ]it'iis 

 made of eiij'bt hurdles, eacli sis feet h.iug', n'iviiiL;- a s(|uare of 

 twelve feet in eaeh side, raid having an iutei'ior sjiaee of imly 

 141- sii]ierticial feet; liut these pens are too small for the 

 health <jr eonifort of the birds^ for they are far iuort> apt to 

 fall into the evil haljits of egu' eating and feather pluekino- 

 than wlien confined in larger runs. 



With regard to the food of the nhl Ihrds in the ]iens, the 

 more varied it is the better, (xood sound gr;iin, such as maize, 

 bai-Jev, buckwheat, malt, tail wheat, oats, tte., may be freely 

 used. r>ut maize should be used sparingly, as it is too fatten- 

 ing f(3r laying pheasants or hens. .Mr. Jiaih' recommenils 

 strongly an occasional feed of boiled pijtatocs, of which the 

 birds are exceedingly fomL He writes: — "For bringing 

 pheasants home, or for kee]iing them tla're, we kno^v of 

 nothing equal to boiled ]iotatoes. Let them be btn'led with 

 the skins wliole, and in that state taken to the place where 

 they are to be used. Before they are put down, cut out of 

 each skin a jiiece the size of a shilling, showing the meal 

 within. Place them at moderate dista.nces from each other, 

 and the birds will follow them anywhere." 



Jiice and damaged currants and raisins are very well for 

 an occasional change, but should be sparingly used. A lew 

 crushed acorns may be given from time to time, but an 

 excessive consumption is apt to jn'ove injurious. j\Ir. J. 

 Fairfax .Mackley, of Audnam, writes on their eniploynient as 

 follows: — "Three seasons ag-o I laid in a stock of acorns, and 

 instructed the feeder to give the pheasants a few every dav. 

 They preferred them to other food. In one week 1 had ten 

 dead birds. They were fat and h^'altlu' in everv respect, 

 with the exception of infiammation of the intestines. AIv 

 conclusion is, that if allowed to havi- free access to acorns 

 they eat uK.ire than they should, and C(Uisei|uentlv many 

 die." On the other hand, it should be remembered that 

 pheasants at liberty usually have access to an unlimited 

 sujiply of acorns. 



