WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
itself to the writer, by the many instances of the immunity 
of the young birds from this much-dreaded pest through 
the frequent use, at different breeding stations, of various 
kinds of decoctions or infusions of herb roots, etc. ; but, at 
the same time, many of the chicks suffered on account of 
the nauseous drink and medicinal food, thus rendering the 
attempt at prevention only a partial success. 
It, however, suddenly occurred to him that the boiling of 
the water used in the preparation of the decoctions was 
probably the secret of the success, and subsequent con- 
siderable experience has fully confirmed this opinion, and 
he is induced to advise its adoption, trusting to hear the 
result when fully and fairly tried upon a more general and 
extensive scale : it must be admitted that no harm can 
arise by its adoption, and the little additional trouble is 
one of its strongest recommendations. The floor or ground 
upon which the chicks are first allowed to run should be 
covered with finely-sifted dry burnt earth or sand, free from 
all kinds of growing vegetation ; for there is no doubt that 
the spores or germs of the parasite are taken up by the 
chicks in the water or heavy dew and moisture that hangs 
upon the plants, etc. Much depends upon the locality, 
the state of the atmosphere, the temperature, and also 
upon the freshness or staleness of the spot ; the shifting 
from place to place, season after season, has always been 
found most beneficial, but if the ground be freshly covered 
with recently-burnt earth, it is rendered perfectly fresh, 
and much trouble and risk is thereby prevented. The 
avoidance of the evil must be far in advance of the best 
remedy ever known or likely to be found. Opinions differ 
in reference to the various kinds of food used to raise 
chicks, be they pheasants, fowls, or other G-allhoce ; much 
depends upon the situation and circumstances, and success 
is obtained in various ways. As a general rule the greater 
variety in the food and the more frequently it is changed, 
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