YOUNG PHEASANTS IN GARDENS. 119 



The advantages to the young birds from being on fresh, 

 sweet ground, and obtaining natural food cannot be over- 

 stated. The hen commands a sufficient space of ground to 

 prevent it becoming soiled, and she can be shifted day after 

 day as often as required." 



In situations where such a convenience is available, there 

 is no more advantageous situation for newly hatched 

 pheasants than a garden surrounded with high walls. A 

 very practical correspondent, writing from Kildare, says : 

 "Thej-e can be no better place to put young birds when 

 newly reared than a large walled-in vegetable garden. I 

 always place mine, hencoop and all, near a plot of cabbages, 

 gooseberries, or raspberries, where they have good covert and 

 feeding, and, above all, are protected from any injury at 

 night during the period of their jugging on the ground, 

 which they do for some time before they fly up to roost. 

 By feeding them at the coops four or five times a day, they 

 will stay in the garden until fully feathered,, and able to fly 

 over the wall to the adjacent coverts. I have had hen 

 pheasants that nested in the garden and hatched under 

 gooseberry bushes, coming to my whistle to feed regulnrly 

 every morning. If the young birds are put out into the covert, 

 the hea and coop (as in the garden) should be brought with 

 them, and laid in a ride close to some very thick covert ; they 

 should be fed there about four times a day, beginning early 

 in the morning, and diminishing as the birds grow strong. 

 I feed them at this period on crushed wheat and barley, 

 boiled potatoes chopped fine, some boiled rice and curds, all 

 mixed together." 



A very vexed question with regard to rearing of the 

 young birds is the supply of water. Some very practical 

 keepers give no water whatever; others give a very little; 

 whilst a third set keep up an abundant supply. I am strongly 

 of opinion that in this, as in all other respects, we cannot 

 possibly do better than take nature for our guide. When 

 hatched out naturally, there is no doubt that the birds obtain 



