PREVENTION OF EGO EATING l()\ 



stauding ou the eclge^ and throwing the loaves ovei' her liaek. 

 The .same hen sat again in 1854-." 



Mr. G. F. Woodrow (Keeper to tlie Earl of Denbigh, 

 INewnhani i'addox, Jjntterworth), writing (.m the subject, 

 state J : " I have half an acre of yimng plantation inclosed for 

 a pheasantry and open at the top, so that the wild cock 

 liirds can g(.) in and oat. I had over thirty hen jdieasants 

 and three cocks, all with their wings cut. Aljout ten weeks 

 ago a hen pheasant wauteil to sit on the last egg that she 

 laid ; I took it from liei', and disturbed her every day, but she 

 persisted in sitting without an egg for more than a week ; at last 

 I took pity on her. (Jiie evening when T had gathered the eggs 

 I put sixteen under her, and she sat and hatched thirteen birds. 

 She allowed me to lift her oil' tla; nost, and I took her and her 

 young and put them in a hen coop, and she has reared them 

 well, and, quite as tame ,as auv of my hens that I have 

 rearing pheasants, allows me to dra.g the ciiopi (.)ii to fresh 

 ground, and never flutters. As soon as 1 throw the food in 

 front of the coi.ip she commences calling her young. They 

 are now about the size of lamlrails, aud the whole of them 

 living." 



I'o pu'event the fatal ha1)it ot ea,ting the egg's, no care 

 should be sjxxred, as it is entirely subversive of any hope of 

 success in rearing. As before stated, it may be in great ]3art 

 preventeii by the fieipieiiC collection of the eggs. Mr. F 

 Cniok truly remarks. 'The male bird in coufinement 

 frequently takes to pecking the eggs, at tirst only for want of 

 something more natural to do. Ha\'iiig no space, no fields 

 and copses to rnam about and amuse himself in. he jjecks and 

 pnishes the eg'g about. At hist if gets chipped, aud he tastes 

 of Its contents, and he will not then leave it until consumed, 

 and the abominable habit is conlinued in him. As it is 

 usuallv the male liird that couimits these vexing faults, a 

 lo(_)se hurdle formiug a corner pen, into which lie can be 

 driven, will be found most useful, as he should only be 

 allowed amougst the hens after they have laid their eggs for 



