56 MANAGEMENT OF PHEASANTS IN CONFINEMENT. 



fresh clear water, hatch quite as well as eggs gathered out of nests in the 

 open covert. 



The construction of more ornamental and permanent aviaries has now to be 

 spoken of, but wiU not require much consideration. Eixed aviaries are far inferior, 

 as regards the health of the birds, to those that are movable, therefore, if possible, 

 they should always be constructed so as to admit of their being shifted on to new 

 ground as often as is convenient. The great cause of the comparatively small 

 success that attends the rearing of pheasants in our Zoological collections arises from 

 the fact that the birds are kept on the same spot year after year, and in aviaries that 

 are not one-fourth of the size required for the health and comfort of the birds. The 

 plan of an ornamental aviary necessarily depends on the desires of the owner, and 

 hardly comes within the scope of this work. Mr. Crook, of Motcomb-street, 

 Belgrave-square, who has had much experience in erecting ornamental aviaries, writes 

 as foUows respecting their construction: — "A neatly constructed lean-to building 

 may be employed facing south or south-west; ten feet wide or long, six feet deep 

 from back to front, and six feet high at front of the highest part of the roof : 

 the roof should project over the side eighteen inches to throw off the wet. The 

 ground must be dug out under the house, and dry earth or sand be filled in. Eaggots 

 may be placed here as before directed, or slanting against the back wall ; every 

 precaution being taken to induce seclusion for the nests. For those pheasantries 

 desired for strictly ornamental purposes, the run may be made to any size agreeable to 

 the wishes of the owner and the conveniences of the ground at command ; or of any 

 design in charactor with some buildings near at hand. These ornamental aviaries may 

 be carried out to any extent, but cannot be made to move about; therefore the 

 greatest attention must be paid to any minute detail in construction to ensure the 

 health and contentedness of the inmates. "When it is possible, the pens or runs 

 should be placed where there are some low-growing shrubs, or even currant or goose- 

 berry bushes, as they afford good sheltering places, and it is quite possible that the 

 hens will make their laying nests at the roots of some of them, which will be a 

 benefit to the birds." 



When the birds are left full winged in wire aviaries, and are wild, it will be 

 found very advantageous to have a cord netting stretched some inches below the wire 

 top, as otherwise the birds are very apt to injure themselves severely when they dash 

 upwards on being alarmed. When it is required to handle the pheasants, precautions 

 must be employed that are not needful in the case of fowls, for their extreme 

 timidity causes them to struggle so wildly as often to denude themselves of a great 

 portion of their plumage, or even to break or dislocate their limbs. They are best 

 caught by the aid of a large landing-net, with which they can be secured when 

 driven into an angle, formed by setting a large hurdle against the side or in the 

 comer of the pen. Mr. Baily, in his practical little treatise, writes:— "The beat 



