THE GAME BREEDER 45 



rowing under the cages. A small box ever, having learned dependence on the 



coop was also found very convenient to mother hen they would follow her even 



drive birds into when found necessary when fully grown, 



to move them. To one used to handling hens with 



About April 1 we mated up the breed- chickens it is surprising to approach a 



ers, putting a pair in each breeding cage, brood of quail after they are well feath- 



which we had prepared by placing hem- ered and see them fly away when sur- 



lock boughs within for shelter from the prised, leaving the hen clucking franti- 



sun. cally. They do not go far and soon 



The meadow in which these dozen return to the parent, 

 pairs of birds were placed was soon Careful attention in closing up the 

 made cheerful by the spring call of the coops at night is a necessary detail. When 

 bobwhite and by the last of May we the lawns were parched for want of rain 

 began collecting eggs from the pens, we put the late broods in the meadow 

 Thereafter they were gathered every where the grass is left uncut for the 

 few days and as soon as we had twenty- benefit of bird life. Swaths were mowed 

 five eggs they were set under a bantam through the long grass as for pheasants, 

 hen. Nests were made on the ground The birds reared in the meadow grew 

 in special coops of three nests each, well, but never became as tame as those 

 which gave the hens a small yard for reared on the lawns where gardeners, 

 feeding and dusting. Buff Cochin ban- lawn mowers, tree doctors and a flock of 

 tams were found to make the most sat- sheep were continually present, 

 isfactory mothers although some silkies Three good-sized patches of buck- 

 were used the first year. The percen- wheat were planted and these doubtless 

 tage of fertility in the eggs ran very high tended to hold many birds that might 

 and a number of hatches gave us as otherwise have left the region. The 

 many as twenty of the little bumble bees Hungarian or gray partridge also enjoyed 

 from twenty-five eggs. the grain and have reared nice broods 



The season of 1913 was unusually which have stayed with us, 



favorable for rearing game, at least in The season mentioned we reared to 



Tarry town, June, July and August being maturity about 150 quail. While we 



very dry and what showers we had came find that they have not always consulted 



generally at night. the county map and settled on Mr. 



The young birds were left on the nest Rockefeller's land, many of them have 



with the foster mother for a day after remained in the vicinity and have reared 



hatching and then if weather was favor- broods. We send feed to parties as far 



able they were removed to a small coop, as two miles distant who inform us of 



Around this coop had been placed a a covey and are interested enough to 



fence of Yz inch wire netting ly-z feet feed them. 



high, fastened in place by stakes driven The feed used for young birds was 

 in the ground. (The small quail try dry bread crumbs mixed with hard 

 hard to get out and there must be no boiled eggs, fed five times a day for the 

 chinks under the wire.) For a week the first few days, gradually changing to fine 

 brood would remain in that yard learn- pheasant meal to which was added ants' 

 ing to follow the hen and feed at her eggs or baked flies caught in wire traps, 

 call. When we felt sure they had This was fed four times a day. Mag- 

 learned their lesson they were removed gots were substituted occasionally, 

 to the spot where we wished to rear When a month old we began feeding 

 them. Some would be placed on the fine grain and in a few weeks they had 

 lawns near the Hall, where a similar only this ration, being then able to obtain 

 coop was provided and a similar yard themselves all the animal food neces- 

 surrounded them, but soon that yard was sary. 



taken away and they were free to run The question of raising quail for food 



over the grass in search of insects. How- is not worrying us very much just yet. 



