6 1 Pheasants. 



but it is desirable to get them up on the trees as 

 soon as possible, because it is precisely at this period that 

 they are exposed to the attacks of ground-vermin. 



Wherever there are good broad rides in the coverts, the 

 proper respective quantity of broods must be disposed along 

 them, at such suitable points as will ensure practically the 

 same surroundings as fall to the lot of those outside the 

 covert. There is sure to be very considerable waste of 

 the young poults if the coops be placed adjacent to low, 

 thick cover. Many will wander and lose themselves, and 

 probably fall victims to any chance vermin. It is therefore 

 necessary to select the positions for the coops along the 

 rides, where not only do the latter offer them a free run, 

 but where the nature of the woodland behind the coops is 

 free and open as well. I know that regular rows of coops, 

 at nearly equal distances, carry a smart and pleasing 

 appearance with them ; but if the welfare of the birds is 

 to be sacrificed for that, there is nothing gained in the 

 process. 



It will only be necessary to retain the coops with the 

 foster-hens just as long as any members of the individual 

 broods continue to enter the coops at night. As soon as 

 all are roosting outside, these may be taken away, and 

 the young poults left to shift for themselves. Of course, 

 they will require careful watching, considerate feeding, 

 and so on, until they " feather up " and commence to 

 reach maturity. 



Before passing to other matters it is necessary here to 

 discuss the subject of the disposal of the hand-reared 

 birds amongst the various coverts upon the preserve. As 

 is well known, or, at any rate, ought to be, although hand- 

 reared birds are in a way tame enough in the early stages 

 of maturity, or approaching maturity, they become later 

 in the year most restless, far more so than the wild-bred 



