Egg -eating. 101 



three cocks, all with their wings cut. About ten weeks ago 

 a hen pheasant wanted to sit on the last egg that she laid ; 

 I took it from her, and disturbed her every day, but she 

 persisted in sitting without an egg for more than a week ; 

 at last I took pity on her. One evening when I had gathered 

 the eggs I put sixteen under her, and she sat and hatched 

 thirteen birds. She allowed me to lift her off the nest, and 

 I took her and her young and put them in a hen coop, and she 

 has reared them well, and, quite as tame as any of my hens 

 that I have rearing pheasants, allows me to drag the coop on 

 to fresh ground, and never flutters. As soon as I throw the 

 food in front of the coop she commences calling her young. 

 They are now about the size of landrails, and the whole of 

 them living." 



To prevent the fatal habit of eating the eggs, no care should 

 be spared, as it is entirely subversive of any hope of success 

 in rearing. As before stated, it may be in great part prevented 

 by the frequent collection of the eggs. Mr. P. Crook truly 

 remarks : " The male bird in confinement frequently takes 

 to pecking the eggs, at first only for want of something more 

 natural to do. Having no space, no fields and copses to 

 roam about and amuse himself in, he pecks and pushes the 

 ■egg about. At last it gets chipped, and he tastes of its 

 contents, and he will not then leave it until consumed, and 

 the abominable habit is confirmed in him. As it is usually 

 the male bird that commits these vexing faults, a loose hurdle 

 forming a corner pen, into which he can be driven, will be 

 found most useful, as he should only be allowed amongst the 

 hens after they have laid their eggs for the day ; and all 

 having been removed, a wooden egg may be exchanged for 

 the real one, which will soon tire him out ; and the bad habit 

 may be cured, and no loss of time occur in the breeding season. 

 But whether the birds are troublesome or not in this respect, 

 the attendants must make periodical visits to the breeding 

 pens for the purpose of collecting the eggs, as they should 

 never be allowed to remain about." 



