24: PriEASAXrS FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



tew hints may, to beginners, ]>e accejitable. They may witli pruiier 

 care Ije reai-ed pei-fectly tame, but have always a tendency to 

 be alarmed nt the sudden ap|)ea.rance of strange dogs, cats, or 

 even individuals, tor winch I'casoii 1 think it advisable they 

 should be |)\nioned it allowed an out-of-<L;>i)i' run, lest they 

 may be tempted to lly iiway or on to the surrounding 

 buildings; for, unlike common poultry, they ai'c only teni])ted 

 to retui'ii with great difficulty, as the moment they get from 

 tlioir accust(.)med range they seem a,s wild and uncontrollable 

 as birds reared in a state of nature. Pini'juing can be easily 

 managed without the slightest detriment to the appearance of 

 the bird. Jjet it, to(j, be always kept in mind, in handling 

 |)heas, lilts ne\'er to kiy hold (if the legs itr wing, f(a- injnry is 

 certain to ensue ; but take up the binl with both hands 

 tightly roinul tla' body over tlie wings. 'This is the only >afe 

 way of c:i|iture, anif tliry then may be taken about witliout 

 injury at all, eitlier to their pbiimige or to themselves. 



" 1 would advise aviaries fur their a.i-C(jminodation to l)e 

 covered in entirely fr(_>in the rain, as nothing tends .so Uiindi 

 to keep them in perfect feather; and then it will not be by 

 any means dillicult to guard them ai^'ainst anijther great 

 a.nnoyaiice — that of cats prowling- about during the night and 

 at twilight. Fr(.)m this cause numbers ol ])heasants of either 

 kind have fieeii destroyed, not from an actual hurt received 

 fr()m the cat, l)ut I'roni the birds in their fright Hviiig' 

 furiously against the roof or the wirework, and scal])iiig' 

 themselves. This may be }ireveiited b\' h.'tting a ' tar-sheet '' 

 be iixed closely every night, to cover the whole (.>f the open 

 work of the aviary. It has this doiibh; service it prevents 

 sudden ram wetting the sanded lloor and causing damp 

 (|jr(jducing rlieuma.tisni in the inmates), and by being opaque 

 prevents the shadow of passing cats being seen ; for if they 

 see cats at night the birds will Hy, and thus seriously damage 

 themselves. I found simple canvas foi' this purpose of no use 

 whatever, Ijeing semi-trauspareut ; the tar-sheet is effective 

 from its density. It is on moonlight nights that the greatest 



