48 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



or mothering is concerned. The hen, however, still has a 

 useful function, to keep the young from wandering off. In 

 pheasant rearing it is customary to remove the hens when 

 the young are about eight weeks, and are old enough to be 

 confined. Young quails do not stand captivity well till 

 they are fully matured. Hence it is better to let the hens 

 stay with them, to hold them out in the open as long as 

 possible before any are to be caught up. It is an interesting 

 and an amusing sight to watch a covey of fuU-grown quails 

 trooping obediently after a little yellow hen. Young quails 

 are especially prone to stay with the hen foster-mother. 

 For example, on the estate of United States Senator George 

 P. McLean, at Simsbury, Connecticut, at the time of this 

 writing, in December, the coveys of hand-reared young 

 quails, fully matured, are still running with the hens closely 

 about the house. The attempt will be made to hold them 

 thus through the winter, on free range. 



Holding in Vicinity. Everything possible should be done 

 to induce the young stock reared to remain free in the vi- 

 cinity under partial supervision and care. Feeding should be 

 continued as long as possible at the accustomed places. If 

 it is desired to allow some of the stock to remain free, their 

 feeding-place should gradually be shifted to a spot suitable 

 to attract wild birds as well, and grain should be kept there 

 under covers or shelters, as already described for winter 

 feeding, using ordinary mixed grain or scratch-feed. Es- 

 pecial care should be exercised when there is severe cold and 

 heavy snow. Leaving patches of standing grain is an ex- 

 cellent practice, as noted above. 



Catching up Stock. If it is desired to catch up some or 

 all of the young stock, this may be attempted when they are 

 fully matured, which is after the feathers of the neck are 

 fully grown out. Following are some of the methods which 



