FORMATION OF PENS. 81 



of buckwheat. This is varied by soft food consisting of meal, 

 with which, at times, a small proportion of greaves is mixed 

 to supply the place of the animal food the pheasants would 

 obtain in a state of nature. Acorns are occasionally employed, 

 but the birds prefer grain. The food is strewed broadcast on 

 the ground ; and it is needless to say that a constant supply 

 of clean fresh water is provided for the birds. The young 

 are hatched under common barnyard fowls, and are reared on 

 custard, biscuit, meal, rice, and millet, with occasionally a 

 little hempseed — ants' eggs, though exceedingly advantageous, 

 not being found in the locality. 



The arrangements recommended by Mr. F. Crook vary 

 somewhat in detail from those described, but are equally 

 practical and effective. He writes : — " An order shoidd 

 be given to the ordinary wattled-hurdle makers to make a 

 given quantity of six feet by six feet open hurdles, with well- 

 pointed ends, twenty-four of these hurdles, when placed in 

 position, will make a convenient-sized run, thirty- six feet 

 every way ; but preparation must be made for a doorway, and 

 for covering over the whole of the hurdles inside the run with 

 one and a half inch wire netting round the sides, and string 

 netting for the top. For the size run specified there must be 

 four posts, made with four-way T piece tops, to carry the 

 netting; the posts to be placed equi- distant from each other, 

 to properly divide off the interior centre space ; from each 

 upright should branch out movable perches about eighteen 

 inches long, at different heights from the ground. The next 

 and most important point is the arrangement of nesting- 

 places. At the most retired portion of the run faggots should 

 be placed, in bundles of three or more, arranged conical 

 fashion, or piled as soldiers do their arms, leaving a good 

 space open at the bottom ; but before setting the faggots in 

 their places, the earth must be dug out six inches deep, and 

 filled in with dry loose sand or fine dry mould, and then place 

 the faggots over the sand. TLere should be as many of these 

 nesting-places as the space will afford, taking care that 



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