Practical Game-Preserving. 48 



best surface, and the necessary grit for the hens may be 

 scattered over it from time to time as required. When 

 runs are used, the process of feeding and watering the 

 hens is simple enough ; but for the purpose of tethering 

 them a stake must be driven in for each hen. To secure 

 the necessary margin of room the stakes must be in two or 

 more rows, fixed alternately 2yds. apart. The tethers for 

 the hens should consist of a ring round the stake, to which 

 a leather thong is attached. This thong should be about 

 %in. to ys'm. wide, with a slit cut at the extremity through 

 which the thong is served, thus forming a loop to go round 

 the hen's leg. It is advisable to initiate the broody hens 

 a day or two beforehand into this process of being tethered, 

 but they speedily accommodate themselves to it, and when 

 taken to the stakes offer little trouble. They should be 

 taken off in the morning, as soon as is reasonably possible, 

 and be kept off for about a quarter of an hour, during 

 which they are fed on soaked grain and given water. 

 Dust-baths may be provided if necessary. 



The question of damping pheasants' eggs is a vexed one, 

 but a medium course can be adopted with the greatest 

 advantage. According to the state of the weather so the 

 course to be pursued must be mapped out daily. In 

 very dry weather water round the edges of each nest with 

 a very fine spray, and with the water at loodeg. In fairly 

 dry weather, water freely when the hens are put off and 

 a few minutes before they return to the nest, and if the 

 weather be muggy and damp, or the dew heavy and 

 clinging, do not water at all. 



From the seventh to the eleventh or twelfth day the 

 eggs may be tested for unfertile ones, which must be 

 replaced from the reserve eggs, either under hens or in the 

 incubator. The testing to be effective must be thorough 

 and carefully done. Rule of thumb in this matter is quite 



