Practical Game-Preserving. 34 



replaced or supplemented by a large tree-root, so placed 

 that the birds can find shelter or hiding beneath it. If 

 possible, some low thick spruce trees may be planted, one 

 in each corner of each pen, 3ft. out from the sides ; 

 failing this, a collection of furze and close-lying tree- 

 boughs may be placed in two or three of the corners, thus 

 forming a substitute for the cover the growing trees would 

 provide. Preferably the pens should be erected some time 

 before being used ; in fact, if the preserver think fit, they 

 may very well be put up in the autumn, and this gives the 

 growing shrubs planted within their limits time to take 

 good hold. They may also be found to serve a useful 

 purpose in the meanwhile. 



The site chosen should, if any way possible, be one 

 facing and sloping towards the south. The ground should 

 be well drained and fruitful, but upon no account be a 

 clay soil. It is not necessary that it should be arid, but 

 certainly it must not be damp, and if these characteristics 

 be secured, pens so situated will serve for several years 

 provided that as soon as the nesting-season is over, the 

 ground within be dug deeply two spits if possible and 

 well treated with salt and lime. It may then be levelled 

 and be re-sown if needed with a suitable form of grass- 

 seed. This mode of dealing with the pens involves the 

 removal of the birds ; but if it be necessary to retain any 

 of them, the advantage of one or two spare pens becomes 

 apparent. 



An alternative plan for securing mobility in the pens 

 which has been adopted with success, and which may be 

 applied with advantage in some instances, is to construct 

 the pens separately, but with one corner standard heavier 

 and stronger than the others, the body of the pen being so 

 arranged that it can be slued round the centre standard 

 in such manner that the pen is bodily removed to fresh 



