39 



Pheasants. 



the business. Some seasons nests are much easier to 

 find than at others; it depends upon the state of the 

 undergrowth. In any case it is impossible to give any 

 hints of value upon the subject ; it is a matter to be learnt 

 only by experience. All that can be said upon the subject 

 is that endeavour should be made to disturb the laying 

 birds as little as possible, take a mental note of the time 

 each bird is on or off, and shape the work accordingly. 

 When a nest is discovered, the eggs are removed and 

 replaced by artificial ones, and when a sufficient supply has 

 been drawn from each nest at the subsequent daily visits, 

 either the nest may be left to be completed, or be 

 destroyed according to how many have been taken the 

 hen then making and completing a fresh nide, or maybe 

 laying to some other one she may discover, or possibly 

 not nesting at all. A good deal of discrimination and 

 discretion is necessary in the work, points to be avoided 

 being the making of too regular a round and consequent 

 beaten track from nest to nest, unnecessary observance of 

 the hens when occupied upon their nest, and the too careless 

 interference with and movement of any covering material 

 left by the laying bird. 



Before leaving this portion of the subject, reference 

 must be made to those clutches already partly incubated 

 which are found later in the season, and which it is con- 

 sidered advisable to remove for completion of incubation 

 under foster-hens. They require careful handling when 

 nearing hatching-out point (easily distinguishable by the 

 peculiar " rattle " the eggs make when being transferred), 

 so that it is advisable always to have one or two broody 

 hens on hand for the purpose. 



It must always be borne in mind that in the foster-hens 

 there exists a most serious element of danger to the whole 

 stock of pheasants sought to be reared, inasmuch as 



