Methods of Breeding. 229 



can be easily managed with out the slightest detriment to the 

 appearance of the bird. Let it, too, be always kept in mind, 

 in handling pheasants, never to lay hold of the legs or wing, 

 for injury is certain to ensue ; but take up the bird with both 

 hands tightly round the body over the wings. This is the 

 only safe way of capture, and they then may be taken about 

 without injury at all, either to their plumage or to themselves. 

 " I would advise aviaries for their accommodation to be 

 covered in entirely from the rain, as nothing tends so much to 

 keep them in perfect feather ; and then it will not be by any 

 means difficult to guard them against another great annoy- 

 ance — that of cats prowling about during the night and at 

 twilight. From this cause numbers of pheasants of either 

 kind have been destroyed, not from an actual hurt received 

 from the cat, but from the birds in their fright flying furiously 

 against the roof or the wirework, and scalping themsehes. 

 This may be prevented by letting a ' tar-sheet ' be fixed closely 

 every night, to cover the whole of the open work of the aviary. 

 It has this double service : it prevents sudden rain wetting 

 the sanded floor and causing damp (producing rheumatism 

 in the inmates), and by being opaque prevents the shadow 

 of passing cats being seen ; for if they see cats at night the 

 birds will fly, and thus seriously damage themselves. I found 

 simple canvas for this purpose of no use whatever, being 

 semi-transparent ; the tar-sheet is effective from its density. 

 It is on moonlight nights that the greatest danger is to be 

 feared, for on these occasions the cats come very long distances, 

 attracted no doubt by scent, and when they have once found 

 your birds will be sure to pay them almost nightly visits. 

 As the birds are valued for their beauty, it will add consider- 

 ably to the perfection of their plumage to place a sufficiency 

 of perches for their accommodation ; not spare and thin ones, 

 but made of deal spars about l^in. square, the sharp edges 

 being taken off with a plane. This will prevent their tails 

 rubbing, and, whether they are intended for attraction or sale, 

 will add not a Httle to their value. 



