90 PHEA8ANTH FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



Thei-G is no absolute neeessity^ Lowover, for having 

 recourse to tlie use (jf open pens, as tlie eg'gs of cut-winged 

 liirds, Ivept in pheasautries of sutticient si/,e, well fed, with a 

 gO(jd variety of fresh vegetable food, and supplied daily with 

 clean water, usually hatch quite well, although the chicks may 

 ni.it be ;is strong as tlu.ise reared from eggs gathered out of 

 nests in the open covc^rt. 



The constructiou of more oriianu'iitiil ainl permanent 

 aviaries has now to be spoken of, Ijut will not reipiire much 

 cousideration. Fixed aviaries are far inferior, as regards the 

 health of the bird'^, ti; those that ;ii'e nio\-alde ; therefore, if 

 pdssible, tliey should nlways be constructed so as to admit 

 of their l)eing shifted on to new grdund :is often as is 

 Convenient. The great cause ijf the cniiiparatively small 

 success that attends the rearing of j^lieasants in our Zoological 

 Gardens arises from the fact that the birds are kept on the 

 same spot yea,r after year, and in aviaries that are not one- 

 tenth of the size rec[uired for the health and comfort of the 

 birds. 



The plan of au ornamental aviary necessarily depends 

 ou the desires of the owner, and hardly comes within the 

 scope of this work. iMr. Crook, who liad much ex])erieuce in 

 erecting ornamental aviaries, writes as inllows respecting 

 their constructioc " A neatl}' C(jnstructed lean-to building 

 may be emph.iyed, facing south or south-west ; ten feet wide 

 01' long, six feet deep from back to front, and six feet high at 

 front; the roof should project over the side t'ighteen inclies to 

 throw off the wet. The ground must be dug out under the 

 house, and dry eartli or sand be filled in. I'aggots may be 

 placed here as before directed, or slanting against the back 

 wall ; every precaution being taken to induce seclusion for 

 the nests. l'\ir those pheasa,ntries desired foi- strictly orna- 

 mental purposes the run may be made to any size agreealjle to 

 the wi.slies of the owner and the conveniences of <he o-round 

 at command ; or of any design in character with some 

 buildings near at hand. These ornamental aviaries may be 



