FORMATION OF PENS AND AVIARIES. 57 



way of catching them is with a net made of hazel rod, seven or eight feet long, 

 forked at top. This fork is bent round, or rather oval shaped, forming a hoop long 

 enough to take in the bird without injuring its plumage. It is then covered with 

 netting loose enough to allow of its being placed on the bird without pressing it 

 down to injure it, and tight enough to prevent it from turning round in the net to 

 the detriment of its plumage. Where many birds have to be caught, it is expedited 

 by the adoption of an expedient I will describe; and the plan is good, because it 

 is always bad for the birds to be driven about, which they must be before they can 

 be caught, if they are in a large pen. An extra hurdle should be made, to which 

 a door should be joined on hinges. It should be three feet long. This should be 

 placed by the side of one of those forming the pen, and the door being open the 

 birds should be gently driven into it; then the door should be closed. They may 

 then be taken with the hand or not. A pheasant should be caught with one hand, 

 taking at the same time a wing and thigh, the other hand should be brought into 

 play directly to prevent its struggling, and it may then be easily and safely held in 

 one, taking both ihighs and the tips of both wings in the hand at the same time. 

 It takes two persons to cut the wings. They should always be held with their heads 

 towards the person holding them." 



Since the publication of the first edition of this work the plans advocated in 

 it have been very generally tested and discussed. The remarks of one of the writers — 

 "W. T."— in The Field of 1878 contain so many useful details, that I am glad 

 to reproduce the more practical portion of his letters. 



" The advice offered with reference to pheasant pens or aviaries is as easy and 

 inexpensive of adoption as it is good. By carefully following the excellent instructions 

 fully set forth in the work upon pheasants by Mr. Tegetmeier — to whom the thanks 

 of all lovers of the bird are due — I succeeded during the spring of 1875 in securing 

 from thirty-five hens one thousand eggs. Porty birds similarly treated produced the 

 following season 1500; last year forty-one hens presented us 1600; while this— so 

 far as it has yet passed — offers promise of a stUi better return. 



" The fertility of our eggs is most satisfactory, very nearly all proving fruitful, 

 the few failing to hatch containing chicks, which through accident merely had not 

 reached maturity. Here again I must gratefully acknowledge the excellent practical 

 instructions proffered by Mr. Tegetmeier relating to feeding specially and manage- 

 ment generally. We take aU the pheasants with which our pens are supplied from 

 early hatchings, care being observed that a due admixture of wild birds' eggs are 

 placed in these first sittings, thus securing a thorough change of blood. 



" On or about Sept. 1 the young birds are caught up, the strongest selected, 

 one cock to five hens, and, with a wing cut, placed in their future home. They 

 require no further attention beyond the frequent supplying of fresh food and 

 water twice or thrice a day, reclipping the cut wing excepted. 



I 



