QUAILOLOGY - DOMESTICATION, ETC. 39 



due to the strain of the birds, improper feed and care, or to be- 

 ing disturbed during the laying period, and not to instinct or 

 too early setting as we find these same variations in the case of 

 birds in their native haunts, where conditions are invariably 

 at their best. 



The only remedy for these small settings is the careful mat- 

 ing up of birds and the introduction of new blood. The idea 

 that you may cheat a quail, by removing an egg every other 

 day after nine or ten have been layed, and thereby secure more 

 eggs is absurd. Madam Quail is very particular about her 

 home apartments and any derangement, or the touching of an 

 egg before incubation has commenced, will be detected and 

 cause her to desert the nest and seek concealment elsewhere 

 for another setting. So that in case you wish the parent birds 

 to hatch out their own eggs, do not disturb them at all, keep 

 out of their private apartments altogether. They know how 

 to conduct the hatchery. 



When the eggs are to be hatched out by a bantam hen or in 

 the incubator, the nest may be very cautiously observed to note 

 the deposit of the first egg, then the date recorded, and when 

 the hen has had time to complete her setting, about eighteen 

 to twenty days, or has just commenced to set, open the nest 

 and remove the eggs. When thus deprived of the first setting 

 she will almost immediately proceed to prepare another nest 

 and deposit another setting. In this manner three settings 

 are often secured in a season. 



As soon as the eggs are taken from the quails nest, whether 

 from the wild or tame birds, they should be placed in the incu- 

 bator or under a bantam as soon as possible, so that should in- 

 cubation have commenced the germ will not be injured. 



In selecting a bantam for hatching out quail eggs we would 

 recommend a buff cochin, as they are good setters and make 

 tender mothers. The nest can be made in a box sufficiently 

 deep to permit of the top being covered with screen, and not 



