Practical Game- Preserving. 208 



heather within the run to grow naturally. Care must 

 be taken, however, to see that the heather at the entrance 

 between the run and coop is removed to allow of the chicks 

 having free access to the run. The heather provides the 

 shelter necessary for the chicks, and they feed on the small 

 grasses and insects in a natural manner. The top of the 

 run must not be covered except during very wet weather. 

 A slight shower of rain is beneficial, both for the health of 

 the chicks and the plant-life which retains the moisture. 

 The coops should be removed round the circles every two 

 days, and this ought to be done in the evening immediately 

 the birds have retired for the night. The ground under 

 the coops may be covered with cut hay or grass, which 

 provides warmth, and is easily and quickly removed when 

 the boxes are shifted. Chopped heather must not on any 

 account be put inside the coops, as it becomes mixed with 

 the evacuation of the hens, the young grouse begin to 

 peck it, and scour is contracted, which kills the birds. 



The food supplied during the first week was mixed seeds 

 and Spratt's Small Game Meal, containing a sprinkling 

 of ' Crissel,' and beef -suet, chopped finely, every three 

 days. The latter was eaten with much relish, more 

 especially during cold weather. A little lettuce was given 

 every forenoon. On the eighth day the birds were in 

 addition supplied with bruised hemp- and rape-seed and 

 whole dari, and at three weeks the coarser No. 2 meal was 

 substituted for the fine and canary mixed seeds, and a 

 plentiful supply of chopped heather-tops supplied. Ants' 

 eggs, softened in boiling water, were allowed the birds 

 every day, and it was observed the chicks were always 

 very thirsty. 



The chicks grew very rapidly and became comparatively 

 tame. At feeding-time they would crowd round and 

 endeavour to use their short wings in their hurry to meet 



