32 QUAILOLOGY - DOMESTICATION, ETC. 



misfortune to lose a brood of young chicks by their getting 

 drowned in a deep water dish. A few perches in the run, and 

 a pile of brush with a little straw thrown over it to serve as a 

 run retreat, and we have an aviary that is large enough for a 

 dozen to eighteen birds and their chicks, an aviary that is not 

 so cumbersome but what it can be moved from one spot to 

 another. We will add, however, that it is advisable to sink an 

 inch mesh woven wire, to the depth of eighteen inches, all 

 around the aviary, and attached to it, to prevent their greatest 

 enemy, rats, from gaining access to the birds. 



'^*" Taming The WiM Quail *'^ 



Having our aviary in readiness for the wild birds we have 

 trapped or netted, we will, before placing them in their perma- 

 nent quarters, proceed to overcome their wild nature and gain 

 at least a portion of their confidence, and accustom them to our 

 attention and approach. First we will place them in a taming 

 box especially designed for that purpose, a small box only 

 large enough to admit of their turning around and stretching 

 their legs. The front may be covered with common wire 

 screen and the top MUST be made of cloth, for the reason that 

 the quail, when startled, are addicted to springing up, and they 

 go with considerable force. If the top be made of wood they 

 are very apt to injure themselves and die from the effects. A 

 door is made in one end to admit of feed and water and we are 

 ready for the birds. Gently stroking them, we place them one 

 by one into the box, and without disturbing them or allowing 

 them to be disturbed, we leave them to themselves until feed- 

 ing time. We feed them twice a day at regular hours, and as 

 often as opportunity permits or our time allows, we open the 

 little door and caress the birds, stroking them gently and call- 

 ing them by name or softly imitating their note call, take one 



