CATCHING BIRDS IN PENS. 91 



carried out t(j any extent, but cannot be made to move about ; 

 therefore the greatest attention must be paid tn an\' minute 

 detad in construction to ensure tlie health and cnntenteibiess 

 of the inmates. When it is possible, the ]->ens t.r runs sh.iuld 

 Ije placed where there are some low-growino- shiadis, or even 

 currant or goosebeiay bushes, as tliey afford good slielteriDg 

 places, and it is ([uite possil)le that the hens will make their 

 laying nests at the ro(jts of some of them, which will be a 

 benetit to the birds." 



When the birtls are left full winged in wire nviaries, and 

 are wild, it will lie found very advantage(.jus to have a Cfird 

 netting stretche<l some inches below the wire toj), as other- 

 wise the birds are very apt to injure themselves severely 

 when they dash u])wards on being alarmed. When it is 

 required to handle the pheasants, precautions must be 

 emjjloyed tliat are not needful in the case (jf fowls, for their 

 extreme timidity causes them to struggle so wildly as often to 

 denttde themselves of a great "jjortion of their ]ibuuage, or 

 even to break or dislocate their limbs. Tlu-y are best caught 

 by tlie aid of a large landing-net, with which they can be 

 secured when driven into an angle, formed by setting a large 

 hurdle against the side or m the corner of the pen. i\Ir. 

 Baily, in his ]iractical little treatise, writes: — "The best 

 way of catching them is with a net made of hazel rod, seven 

 or eight feet long, forked at top. The fork is lient round, 

 or rather oval shaped, forming a hoop long enough t(.> take 

 in the bird witlujut injui'ing its plumage. It is then covered 

 with netting l(.}ose enough to allow of its being ])laced on 

 the bird without pressing it down to injure it, and tight 

 enough to prevent it frcan turning round in the net to the 

 detriment of its jilumage. A\ here many biinls have to be 

 caught, it is ex])edited by the adoption cif an exjiedient I will 

 describe; and the plan is good, because it is always fiad f(jr 

 the birds to be driven about, which they must be before they 

 can be caught, if they are in a large pen. An extra hurdle 

 should be made, to wdiich a door should be joined on hinges. 



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