Practical Game-Preserving. 200 



rarely be desirable to rely on eggs from one's own birds, 

 the importance of attending to this matter will be easily 

 seen. The distance from which the eggs are brought need 

 not be great, provided they be the produce of birds which 

 do not in any way intermix with those whose numbers it is 

 intended to augment or to improve. Grouse are laying, of 

 course, much earlier in the season than pheasants or 

 partridges; consequently, the arrangements for rearing 

 must entail somewhat more trouble ; besides, the habits of 

 the birds must be taken into account in greater degree. 

 The rearing of these game-birds is, however, the exception 

 rather than the rule; consequently, large permanent pre- 

 parations are not required, and what may be termed 

 temporary makeshifts take their place. 



The first consideration must be the site for the breeding 

 operations. If there are facilities for rearing the birds on 

 the open moor or the borders of it, so much the better, and 

 provided there is a keeper's lodge or a cottage within 

 handy distance, it must be utilised. If, however, this be 

 not forthcoming, and recourse must be had to some part of 

 the home farm or an outlying one, then the best place to 

 choose is some warm, sunny spot, either in the corner of a 

 field or the side of one of those broad, rutted, rough tracks 

 called " roads," through the farm, or the bank beside a 

 plantation in fact, any place where sun and warmth pre- 

 dominate, and where vermin and intruders are unknown. 

 Should such a place be decided on, the matter of shelter is 

 easily met, but on the open moor the case is altered. The 

 vicinity of a small lodge or a house would be a source of 

 protection, and the coops containing the youngsters could 

 be moved so as always to benefit by it ; while a supply of 

 5ft. to 6ft. wattle hurdles must not be overlooked as a 

 means of warding off the wind, the rain, and the cold. 



The instructions which were given with regard to setting 



