68 MANAGEMENT OF PHEASANTS IN CONFINEMENT. 



select a dry spot, sheltered from the rains as much as possible. Sometimes they will 

 carry dry leaves, soft, short straw, hay, and feathers; at other times the nest is 

 made in a hollow at the root of a tree, and the eggs are laid on the loose moiild ; or 

 under thick bushes, and covered with coarse grass: but in every case the nest is 

 never stifled, having the freest circulation of air surrounding it. If such natural 

 precautions alone are used, greater success may be looked for at home than when 

 the nests are made up in quiet, warm, small places, where the birds have but little 

 room to move, and the eggs get nothing but a fetid atmosphere to destroy the life 

 that lies beneath the shell. The term of incubation of pheasants' eggs varies con- 

 siderably. I have hatched them at home at aU times from twenty-two to twenty- 

 seven days, but in the woods they invariably turn out about the twenty-fourth day. 

 Those which hatch at the most natural time of twenty-four days turn out to be the 

 finest and healthiest birds. There is some care required in marking the dates and 

 number of eggs set in each nest for hatching, as by a little forethought in this 

 respect, great advantages may be obtained by saving time, and retaining the services 

 of the sitting hen. Over each nest the date should be distinctly pencilled, thus ^^^ 

 which means fourteen eggs were set on the 16th of April, 1881. About the ninth 

 day the eggs should be examined, and all those which appear perfectly clear, as 

 when first set, should be laid on one side as useless for hatching, but as perfectly 

 good for feeding the poults." 



This examination of the eggs after they have been sat on for a few days is 

 exceedingly desirable, as those that are unfertilised may be removed, when they serve 

 as food for the poults, and leave more room for such as contain live birds. 



Many instruments dignified by the title of ovascopes and egg-testers have 

 been devised for this purpose, some with lenses, others with reflectors, &c. I have tried 

 the whole of them, and find them far inferior to the following simple contrivance : — 

 To test the eggs take a piece of stout dark coloured pasteboard (the loose cover of 

 a large book answers very weU) ; in the centre of this cut an oval hole, the shape 

 of a pheasant's egg, but a little smaller to prevent the egg passing through ; the 

 margin of the hole should be evenly cut, so that the egg when placed against it 

 fits closely. The appearance of the board and hole is shown in the diagram. This 

 simple contrivance, with a parafG.n or other bright lamp with a glass 

 chimney, is aU that is requisite. To examine the eggs, take them 

 from under the hen on the eighth or ninth day, and, if during day- 

 time, go into a room perfectly darkened, except as regards the light 

 :'rom the one lamp, hold the perforated board near to the glass chimney so as to 

 bring the opening opposite the light, then place the egg to be examined in the 

 opening. If it is not fertilised, it will permit the light to be partially seen through 

 it in the same manner as a perfectly fresh egg. It. is " clear," and should be 

 reserved to furnish food for the poults when hatched. On the other hand, the 



