i j 3 Pheasants. 



the necessary flushing of running birds of their own and 

 simple effectiveness ; or this is made assured by sewin, or 

 netting run along them. Upon the whole, however, and 

 where the practice can be properly carried out, a system 

 of well-established flushing-trigs should always be pro- 

 vided where necessary, to secure good shooting. A section 

 of how the ground should be taken out for the purpose is 

 given as a guide (Fig. 16). 



The provision if such does not already exist either by 

 planting or by adapting one or more existing ones to the 

 purpose of dark or night coverts, is generally necessary 

 upon most preserves. These are coverts which are never, or 

 very rarely, shot over, and remain practically undisturbed. 

 Situated centrally, or as home coverts, they should consist, 

 or be made to consist, of closely-planted spruce and Silver 

 fir for the most part, with a slight sprinkling of suitable 

 deciduous trees. Many birds which leave the shot coverts, 

 and, never returning to them, would certainly stray, will 

 find sanctuary in such dark coverts, and remain there. 

 The matter is one of importance on some preserves, 

 and where wholly or mainly wild-bred birds are reared, 

 the system is capable of being extended and worked very 

 successfully. 



The last matter in connection with pheasant-coverts is 

 that of the hedges which may surround them. In this 

 connection a great deal may be accomplished for the 

 betterment of the woods, &c., particularly those of some 

 age, which, as a rule, are surrounded by more or less 

 broken-down hedges and hedgerows. Speaking generally, 

 wherever new plantations are made, the actual hedges or 

 hedgerows necessary to provide the boundary for them 

 should be put up from i2yds. to i5yds. from the borders 

 of the trees, and the same plan should be followed when 

 it is possible or necessary to remove and renew old 



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