260 FEEDING. 



and quantity of food, given daily, is abundant' — 

 2^ pounds paring and whole meal mixed, and 2 

 pounds of wheat and Indian corn mixed. In 

 the morning open the trap and give the fowls 

 access to their yard, feed with one half of the 

 soft food, and give fresh water. In the middle 

 of the day throw down some lettuce or cabbage 

 leaves, and calcined oyster shells broken small ; 

 also the remaining half of the soft food. At four 

 o'clock give the grain, and again fresh water. 

 The birds will retire shortly after this last meal 

 to roost, when they must be shut up for the 

 night. During the day let the flock out to graze, 

 and pick up what they can in the shape of in- 

 sects and seeds. At this season there is very 

 little to be found, but the exercise is conducive 

 to health, and it is astonishing how much grass 

 some fowls will eat, especially Brahma-pootras. 

 One hour's liberty is sufficient, but the more 

 they can have the better will they thrive. Much 

 less food would be required if the fowls had 

 complete liberty, but the quantities I have 

 specified have been proved in my own establish- 

 ment to be sufficient for the support of fourteen 



