8 1 Pheasants. 



birds as for the food provided ; but of course in stress of 

 weather they offer a very accommodating shelter to the 

 birds themselves, whilst when the weather is fine and dry 

 the food may be provided as well about the covert as 

 within the huts. 



The food-huts, when employed in large coverts, may 

 serve as centres for an organised scheme of winter feeding 

 for pheasants, worked in connection with smaller food- 

 shelters spread here and there throughout the coverts. 

 These may be of several kinds; but, being of a less 

 permanent nature than the larger huts, less time and 

 trouble need be expended upon them. As a rule, their 

 size does not require to be more than sufficient to protect 

 one or two sheaves of corn or beans in the haulm from the 

 rain or snow. They may be constructed on similar lines 

 to the huts previously described, or they may be formed 

 of three fir-poles, the smaller ends fixed together and the 

 larger extended in the manner of a tripod, with two or 

 three pieces fixed crosswise to maintain the uprights in 

 position. Long withies, with the leaves on, or spruce 

 branches should be lashed on to them, extending down- 

 wards to within a pheasant's height of the ground. The 

 legs of the triangle formed should extend to about 4ft. 

 apart, thus leaving ample space for setting up one or two 

 sheaves of unthrashed corn within the shelter. 



Another kind of food-shelter for pheasants may be 

 formed by setting up either one or more single hurdles in 

 a line, or leaning them together in couples, at the same 

 time forming a rough thatch of withies or spruce branches 

 in the manner already suggested, to provide the necessary 

 protection from rain or snow. 



In connection with all food-huts or shelters which may 

 be set up for the winter feeding of pheasants, there is one 

 important point which must not be overlooked, and that 



G 



