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Diseases of Pheasants. 



by some process ; in old days soft shot was used. The late 

 Sir J. Brigg often discussed this with me ; he said he once 

 poured the greater part of a charge of shot down a hen's throat 

 and it did her no harm. And I have frequently found pellets 

 of shot in the gizzards of game birds, pheasants, partridges, 

 grouse, ptarmigan, and even in one wild goose, all of which 

 were apparantly perfectly healthy. 



One of the essentials to health in pheasants is an adequate 

 supply of suitable grit ; and it should be remembered that 

 this is necessary at the earliest stages of their existence. If 

 deprived of this a bird will soon deteriorate in condition 

 owing to the gizzard being unable to perform its function. 

 The aviaries should be well furnished with this material, 

 preferably in the form of white quartz or granite finely broken. 

 In coverts where the natural supply is exhausted or not 

 abundant a quantity of this grit may with advantage be 

 distributed. 



