63 Pheasants. 



respect would be more likely to prove misleading than 

 instructive. 



To a large extent the same remarks which apply to the 

 separate coverts upon a preserve or a beat are relevant to 

 the separate beats which may go to make up one large 

 preserve. Given two or three, it is almost certain that 

 some of the beats will be of their own nature less pro- 

 ductive, or of less carrying power, than others. Their 

 possibilities in these directions can only be definitely ascer- 

 tained by actual experience, but may be fairly gauged at 

 the outset by evidences available to even the moderately 

 experienced. It is usual, however, for so many eggs to be 

 allotted to each beat, and the under-keeper in charge is 

 entrusted with the hatching and rearing of the resulting 

 birds, just as if it were a separate preserve. Acreage of 

 the beat and the coverts cannot, however, alone be taken 

 as a guide of what can be done or ought to be done. A 

 good deal of bickering occurs, and blame is apportioned 

 over apparent discrepancies in the results secured upon 

 different, but apparently identical, beats ; but it is certain 

 that if the possibilities of them were properly ascertained, 

 it would be found that their capabilities were not of the 

 same calibre. It is necessary that these facts in connection 

 with rearing should be brought home to the preserver, 

 otherwise disappointment and possibly injustice might 

 follow. 



