49 



Pheasants. 



useless, and it would serve just as good a purpose to leave 

 the eggs untested. A skilled person can tell them against 

 the sun, if it be bright, by holding them towards its light 

 with one hand and screening it with the other ; but a better 

 plan is to have a piece of stout cardboard (Fig. 5), about 

 i ft. square, provided with a hole the shape of, and slightly 

 smaller than, a pheasant's egg. Convey each clutch in 

 turn to where it is sufficiently dark and convenient for the 

 purpose, and by means of a bright lamp scrutinise each 



Fif. 5. Mode of Testing Pheasant*' Eggs. 



egg in turn as it is placed against the hole in the card- 

 board, and so as to receive the full light of the lamp. The 

 fertile eggs will be perfectly opaque, except the small air- 

 chamber at the larger end. All others are unfertile, and 

 must be removed and replaced. Where many eggs have 

 to be tested, a small apparatus embracing these details may 

 be constructed, a neat wire holder being affixed to the 

 cardboard to keep the egg in position whilst being examined. 

 A use may sometimes be found for the unfertile eggs if 

 they have not become seriously tainted. 



E 



