80 Formation of Pens. 



are quite incapable of taking due care of themselves when 

 turned out into the open, and are liable to fall a prey to ground 

 vermin. 



As illustrative of the mode in which a large number of 

 birds can be successfully kept in one locality, I will describe 

 the arrangements which I saw at the pheasantries belonging 

 to Mr. Leno, a very successful rearer. The birds are kept in 

 runs enclosed by hurdles between six and seven feet high. 

 These are formed of stout straight larch laths nailed to cross 

 pieces of oak or other strong wood, and are fastened to stout 

 posts securely driven into the ground. As the posts are 

 capable of being easily withdrawn and replaced, there is no 

 difficulty in moving the pens year after year — a most important 

 consideration for the preservation of the health of the birds. 

 Moreover, by employing a greater or smaller number of hurdles 

 and posts, pens of any required size may be constructed, 

 so as to accommodate a larger or smaller number of birds. 

 On my visit the runs had recently been shifted on to new 

 ground, which consisted of young hazel coppice, which had been 

 partly cleared. The surface was covered with the dead leaves- 

 of last year's growth and with short underwood, affording 

 ample opportunity for the birds to amuse themselves by scratch- 

 ing for insects and by seeking food amongst the leaves. The 

 amount of undergrowth afforded another important advantage, 

 that the birds, on the entrance of a stranger, could run under 

 shelter, and so conceal themselves, instead of dashing about 

 wildly, as they would otherwise have done. No roof or shelter- 

 of any kind was afforded them ; had such been erected the birds- 

 would only have used it for roosting upon, and not for sleeping 

 under. In each pen was a horizontal pole, supported about 

 four feet from the ground by a post at each end. Across this- 

 was laid a number of stout branches and long faggots, forming, 

 a kind of shelter to which the birds could have recourse,, 

 and under which the hens would occasionally lay ; but the- 

 chief advantage it affords is that of a roosting-place, elevated 

 form the ground, and so keeping the birds away from the 



