I3 i Pheasants, 



nests of wild birds through disturbance or by larger 

 vermin. The practice followed at Euston is to take all 

 the eggs from outlying nests, or where birds are liable 

 to be disturbed, and either add them to the nests of birds 

 nesting under more favourable conditions, or to incubate 

 them under hens until near the time of hatching, when they 

 are transferred to the wild birds' nests. 



Carried out in a thorough and workmanlike fashion as 

 the system is at Euston, it has proved eminently satisfac- 

 tory, and the quality of the shooting has exhibited a 

 decidedly improving tendency. Of course, the quantity of 

 birds annually produced by this system cannot extend to 

 the same limits as where birds are hand-reared, and the 

 amount of trouble and labour expended is greater ; whilst 

 the standard of keepers necessary for carrying out what is 

 rather ticklish work, requiring great care and observation, 

 must necessarily be higher than in the case of ordinary 

 preserves. 



The Duke of Graf ton's birds are noted for their fine 

 flying powers, and skilled shots revel in the increased 

 quality of the shooting they offer, as against the greater 

 quantity but less sporting value of birds hand-reared 

 in the ordinary manner. Personally, the system appeals 

 very strongly to me; but it is one which can scarcely be 

 applied to the average preserve, although its adoption by 

 many preservers is easily possible. 



White and Pied Pheasants. It is a not unusual prac- 

 tice amongst preservers to secure quickly any specimens of 

 white or pied birds which may occur amongst their wild 

 stock ; but these birds may be made to serve a very useful 

 purpose, particularly amongst the boundary birds, because 

 it is self-evident that, so long as these prominently - 

 coloured birds remain, they and the rest of the neighbour- 

 ing stock are not being interfered with by poachers or 



K 2 



