112 PHEASANTS FOB COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



FrijHi the iiidis])ositi(iii slu.iwu l^v tlie jilieasaut to inuuljate 

 in contiQeinent, it is necessaiy in all cases to have recourse 

 to the hens of tlie cloniestic fowl as foster parents. Various 

 0})inions are offered as to the lirecil of fowls niosr suitaMe 

 for the purpose. There can, however, be no donlit tliat it 

 should he one of a moderate size, and not too ]irolifie in egg 

 iiroduring, a.s it is essential that tlie mother hen shoidd keep 

 with the piiults as long as possilile. wdiicli she is not likely to 

 do after she recommences to lay. Silky fowds are strongly 

 recommended by some, and they nncpiestionably constitute 

 admira,ble mothers. ^I. Wekemans. of the Antwerp Zoo- 

 logical Clardens, where rare plieasauts are reared nmre 

 successfully than in any similar establishment in Europe, 

 has employed half-bred silkies ; and the late Mr. Stone, of 

 Scyborwen, fully enddrsed his ]iractice. These half-bred 

 silkies are good sitters, admiraide mothers, and keep a long 

 time with the youni:'. The ordiiniry bantams S(inietinies 

 recommendeil are undonljtedlv too small, not lieiuo- able to 

 cover the pnults wdien of any size. The emjiloymcut of pure- 

 bi-pd ga,me liens is stmnglv recommended liy many lireeders 

 of phrasants, as they will defend theii- chicks against any 

 enemies that may attack them, though tlieii- natural wildness 

 renders their management somewdiat ditticiilt at time- ; any 

 ^mall, tame, ordinary hens will answer if kmjwu as o-dod 

 nurses, ami none others should be emoloyed. 



Hens with feathered legs are not de-iralile, as thev are 

 very fi-equently afflicted with what is known as " scuil'v lee's,'' 

 a very oljnuxiiiiis disease, which is caused Ijv minute parasites 

 that breed under the scales, causing rough swellings. These 

 ]iarasites extend to the yoiing pheasants, and many coverts 

 are infested with scurfy -legged |.)heasa,nts in consequence. 



It is the common custom to set the hens in close boxes 

 with little or no ventilation, crowded together in sittino- 

 houses. Under these conditions the nests swarm with 

 vermin, the sitting hens become irritable and lireak then- 

 eggs ; and wdien the young pheasants come out thev are 



