Practical Game-Preserving. 118 



be properly protected and so constructed that rats cannot 

 get into them at night. Upon the other hand, the young 

 chicks, when let out by day, may also be snapped up by 

 some of these vermin which may be in hiding, consequently 

 close watching is very necessary. 



At this early period, as already stated, stoats and 

 weasels are not much on the move, and not much to be 

 feared except at night-time, when, if the opportunity for 

 them to get into the coops exist, they are almost certain to 

 take advantage of it. Naturally the traps cannot remain 

 set by day, but it does not occupy a great deal of time to 

 set and reset them daily, and the process ensures security 

 for the stock. 



Most of the losses which may occur from vermin 

 amongst very young pheasant chicks are due to more or 

 less persistent attacks by winged vermin. In this cate- 

 gory, crows and rooks (so inclined), sparrow-hawks, and 

 occasionally kestrels (when nesting early) will prove the 

 most likely delinquents. As a rule it is daring and 

 cunning individual members of these species which inflict 

 the most damage, and it is equally the case that the gun 

 proves the most effective weapon to employ against them. 

 At the same time, well-placed traps, attractively baited, 

 set around the outskirts, will frequently account for 

 them, but, as said before, the gun is invariably necessary 

 to cope with winged vermin working upon these lines, 

 because it is generally at the most unexpected times and 

 in the most daring fashion that the young chicks are 

 carried off. It will be frequently observed that winged 

 vermin bent upon raids of this kind will regularly prospect 

 the ground beforehand, and if steps then be taken to 

 settle them, such enterprise may be nipped in the bud. 



Wherever the rearing-field or fields are of any extent, 

 it will be impossible for one keeper effectually to supervise 



