198  Notes  on  Continental  Poultry-keeping. 
approximately  14  inches  between  the  laths,  but  duplicated  to 
the  height  of  16  inches,  so  as  not  to  allow  the  young  chicks  to 
get  through.  The  palings  between  the  runs  are  similarly 
constructed.  Each  building  is  surrounded  by  open  ground  and 
by  walks  which  have  been  excavated  to  the  depth  of  10  inches, 
and  afterwards  filled  in  with  coal-cinders  covered  with  sand. 
The  cinders  facilitate  the  drainage  of  the  water,  dry  the  plots  of 
land,  and  enable  the  fowls  to  avoid  the  dust  which  is  so 
pernicious  to  them.  The  remainder  of  each  run  is  laid  down 
in  grass  sheltered  by  shrubs. 
“ The  ‘ furniture  ’ of  each  run  consists  of  the  following  : * — 
“ (1.)  A breeding  cage,  having  a zinc  roof,  and  comprising 
two  divisions  separated  by  bars  or  wires.  The  hen  with 
its  brood  is  put  in  one  of  the  compartments,  but  the  chicken 
can  pass  through  the  spaces  into  the  other,  above  which 
is  a large  pane  of  glass  or  window,  which  keeps  the  chicken 
warm  while  there,  as  well  as  if  they  were  under  the  hen.  Each 
compartment  has  its  door,  which  also  is  furnished  with  a small 
grating,  in  which,  at  night  and  in  cold  weather,  a pane  of  glass 
can  be  slipped.  At  first  the  cage  is  kept  shut,  because  young 
chicken  are  required  to  be  kept  warm,  while  they  can  obtain 
air  through  the  little  grated  windows.  Afterwards  the  door  of 
one  of  the  compartments  can  be  opened,  so  that  the  chicken 
may  go  in  and  out.  Several  of  these  breeding  cages  may  be 
put  in  one  run,  provided  that  the  hens  cannot  get  out  to  fight 
one  another,  or  to  kill  the  chicken  belonging  to  the  occupant 
of  another  cage. 
“ (2.)  A stone  trough  (b)  contains  pure  water,  but  inclined  in 
such  a manner  that  the  chicken  cannot  drown  themselves. 
“ (3.)  A corn-bin  (g),  with  a cover  in  the  form  of  a roof  to 
preserve  the  grain  from  the  rain,  and  prevent  the  fowls  from 
making  it  dirty. 
“ (4.)  A small  trough  (m),  in  solid  stone,  sunk  in  the  earth,  to 
receive  the  steeped  bran  and  cooked  food  which  would  rot 
the  bin  G. 
“ (5.)  An  umbrella-shaped  shelter  (p)  to  the  fowls  against  the 
rain  and  the  sun,  which  enables  them  always  to  find  a place 
where  they  can  lfaire  poudrette  .’  It  is  understood  that  this  is 
the  ‘ toilette  ’ of  fowls,  and  that  it  is  with  the  dust  which  they 
disperse  over  their  bodies,  and  which  they  shake  off  directly 
afterwards,  that  they  free  themselves  from  the  little  insects 
which  annoy  them. 
“ The  fowl-houses  and  annexed  runs  are  chiefly  used  in  the 
* I have  somewhat  abbreviated  the  original  descriptions. — II.  M.  J. 
