i'O Formation of Pens. 



" The fertilitj- 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 management generally. We take 

 all the pheasants with which our pens are supphed 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. 



" Our aviary here being within easy flight of natural coverts, 

 we adopt clipping in preference to pinioning, since, when the 

 egg harvest closes, by extracting the crippled feathers, a 

 gradual recovery of power enables the birds one by one to effect 

 escape ; the exodus thus permitted being generalh' fully 

 accomplished in sufficient time for a thorough cleaning and 

 preparation of the aviary in readiness for its proposed future 

 3'oung occupants. One of the great secrets of success lies 

 in variety of dry and hberality of green food, together with a 

 generous supply of frequently changed water, gravel or road 

 grit, ashes, chalk, and pounded bones. 



" I now propose offering a few suggestions touching more 

 particularly the position, construction, and general manage- 

 ment of the pheasant pens or aviaries. It may, however, 

 be premised that their size and the number of birds proposed 

 to be kept greatly modify many minor matters of detail, 

 with reference not only to the health, but also to the comfort 

 of the prisoners. On the all-important question of site — 

 fair contiguity to the keeper's cottage should be observed ; 

 for if placed at too great a distance, a laxity, in winter more- 



