Pheasants Sent by Train. 97 



because this bird will induce the new captives to feed. The 

 birds should be kept in this way until they have become tame 

 and are fit to be transferred to the packing-cases. 



" B. The food should consist of grain and seeds of various 

 kinds, berries, fruit, insects, green food (such as cabbage,, 

 lettuce, etc.), bread or soaked biscuit, chopped meat, boiled 

 eggs, etc. 



"4. Travelling cages are most conveniently made of an 

 oblong shape, divided into compartments about eighteen 

 inches square, and not higher than just sufficient to allow 

 the birds to stand upright in them. They should be boarded 

 all round, except in front, where strong wire netting may be 

 employed — although, if the birds are at all wild, wooden bars, 

 close enough to prevent the inmates from escaping between 

 them, are preferable. 



"5. Every compartment should have the top on the inside 

 padded with canvas, as, if this is not done, the birds are very 

 liable to injure their heads by jumping upwards. 



" 6. A movable feeding-trough should be fixed along the 

 front of each compartment ; one-third of this should be lined 

 with tin or pitch, or otherwise made to hold water ; the 

 remaining two-thirds will hold the food. 



" 7. Coarse sand or gravel should be kept strewn on the 

 bottom of the cages, and a supply of this should be sent along 

 with the birds, as it is necessary to them for the healthy digestion 

 of their food. 



" Pi. The front of the cage should have a piece of coarse 

 canvas to let down as a Wind to keep the birds quiet ; and, 

 in order to give them air, round holes should be bored at the 

 back of the box in the upper part. 



" 9. The box should be cleaned out when the birds are 

 fed, through the opening in front made by removing the 

 feeding trough, care being taken that this opening is not 

 wide enough to let the birds escape. 



" 10. In order to supply the birds with green food during 

 the voyage, a few small trays (such as are used to hold the sand 



