vermin more destructive to game than the domestic cat. People not aware of her predatory habits would never for a moment suppose that the household favorite that appears to be dozing so innocently by the fire is most probably under the influence of fatigue caused by a hard night's hunting in the plantations. How different also in her manner is a cat when at home and when detected prowling after the game. In the first of the two cases she is tame and accessible to any little attentions; in the latter she seems to know she is doing wrong, and scampers off home as hard as she can go. Luckily there is no animal more easily taken in a trap, if common care be used in setting."

FORMATION OF PENS AND AVIARIES.

The pens should be situated in a dry situation, sandy or chalky if possible, but any soil not retentive of wet will answer. If the surface is sloping it is to be preferred, as the rain is less likely to render the ground permanently damp. Although cold is not injurious to the mature birds, and they require no special shelter, the south side of a hill or rising ground is to be chosen in preference, as the young stock are delicate. Common wattled hurdles, made seven feet long and set up on end, make as good pens as can be desired; they should be supported by posts or fir poles driven firmly into the ground, with a horizontal pole at the top to which the hurdles are bound by tarred cord, or, still better, very stout flexible binding wire, which should also be used to secure them together at top and bottom. The post should be inside the pen, as better calculated to resist any pressure from without.

The hurdles should rest on the ground without any opening below, and if they are sunk three or four inches below the surface the pens will be more secure against dogs and foxes or any animals likely to scratch their way under. The size of these pens should be as large as convenient; for a cock and from three to five hensthe utmost number that should be placed together as many hurdles should be employed as will form a pen twenty-five to thirtyfive feet square, the smaller containing six hundred and twenty-five square or superficial feet of surface; the larger, which will require less than half as many more hurdles, containing nearly dou

ble the interior space, namely, one thousand two hundred and twenty-five square feet. If the birds are full winged, these enclosures must be netted over at the top; for this purpose old netting, which can be bought very cheaply, will be found much better than wire-work, as the pheasants are apt, when frightened, to fly up against the top of the enclosure, and, if it be of wire, to break their necks or seriously injure themselves. Should netting be employed, several upright poles, with crosspieces at the top, are required to be placed at equal distances to support the netting, and prevent it hanging down in the interior of the pen. A much better plan is to leave the pen quite open at the top, and to clip one of the wings of each bird, cutting off twelve or fourteen of the flight feathers close, but not into the quills. When the birds can not fly they become much tamer, are more productive, and are not so apt to injure themselves by dashing about wildly, especially if there be, as is desirable, brushwood cover or fagots in the pen, under which they can run and conceal themselves. Some persons are in the habit of pinioning the birds by cutting of the last joint of the wing, thus removing permanently the ten primary quills, but the plan is not to be recommended, as the pinioned birds are quite incapable of taking due care of themselves when turned out into the open, and are liable to fall a prey to ground vermin.

With regard to the food of the old birds in the pens, the more varied it is the better. Good sound grain, such as maize, barley, buckwheat, malt, tail wheat and oats, etc., may all be used. But maize should be used sparingly, as it is too fattening for laying pheasant or hens. Mr. Bailey recommends strongly an occasional feed of boiled potatoes, of which the birds are exceedingly fond. He writes: "For bringing pheasants home, or for keeping them there, we know of nothing equal to boiled potatoes. Let them be boiled with the skins whole and in that state taken to the place where they are to be used. Before they are put down, cut out of each skin a piece the size of a shilling, showing the meal within. Place them at a moderate distance from each other, and the pheasants will follow them anywhere."

Rice and damaged currants and raisins are very well for an occasional change, but should be sparingly used. A few acorns

may be given from time to time, but their use in excess is apt to prove injurious.

With regard to the employment of animal food, such as horseflesh, greaves, etc., I believe its use, except in the very smallest quantity, to be exceedingly injurious; nor do I approve of the spice condiments so strongly recommended by the makers. The bodies of dead domestic animals can, however, be most advantageously utilized by allowing them to be thoroughly fly-blown, and then burying them under about a foot of soil in the pens, where the maggots go through the regular stages of growth, after which they work their way to the surface in order to effect their change into chrysalides. They furnish an admirable supply of insect food for the birds, and give them constant occupation and exercise in scratching in the ground. Utilized in this manner the bodies of dead fowls or any small domestic animals, are perfectly inoffensive, and the result is most advantageous to the birds.

The employment of crushed bones, as a substitute for the varied animal substances the pheasant feeds upon when in a wild state, is highly advantageous.

There is one point on which almost all the works treating on the management of pheasants is lamentably deficient, namely, enforcing the absolute necessity of a constant supply of fresh green vegetable food. The tender grasses in an aviary are soon eaten and the birds, pining for fresh vegetable diet, become irritable, feverish, and take to plucking each other's feathers. To prevent this, cabbages, turnip leaves still better, waste lettuces from the garden, when going to seed-should be supplied as fast as they are eaten; the smaller the pen the greater the necessity for this supply. Should these cultivated vegetables be not readily obtained, a a good supply of freshly cut turves, with abundance of young grass and plenty of clover, should be furnished daily.

LAYING AND HATCHING.

Of the laying in aviaries there is but little to be said. The birds usually drop their eggs about at random, consequently they should be looked after, and collected frequently, so as to prevent as far as possible their being brokea, which is almost certain to

establish the destructive habit of egg eating. Sometimes, however, hen pheasants will take to concealed nests, and instances are not unknown of their sitting and hatching successfully in confinement.

To prevent the fatal habit of eating the eggs, no care should be spared, as it is entirely subversive of any hope of success in rearing. As before stated, it may be in a great part prevented by the frequent collection of the eggs. Mr. F. Crook truly remarks: "The male bird in confinement frequently takes to pecking the eggs, at first only for want of something more natural to do. Having no space, no fields and copses to roam about and amuse himself in, he pecks and pushes the egg about. At last it gets chipped, and he tastes of its contents, and he will not then leave it until it is consumed, and the abominable habit is confirmed in him. As it is usually the male bird that commits these vexing faults, a loose hurdle forming a corner pen, into which he can be driven, will be found most useful, as he should only be allowed amongst the hens after they have layed their eggs for the day; and all having been removed, a wooden egg may be exchanged for the real one, which will soon tire him out; and the bad habit may be cured, and no loss of time occur in the breeding season. But whether the birds are troublesome or not in this respect, the attendants must make periodical visits to the breeding pens for the ́purpose of collecting the eggs, as they should never be allowed to remain about."

From the indisposition shown by the pheasant to incubate in confinement, it is necessary in all cases to have recourse to the hens of the domestic fowl as foster parents. Various opinions are offered as to the breed of fowls most suitable for the purpose. There can, however, be no doubt that it should be one of a moderate size, and not too prolific in egg producing, as it is essential that the mother hen should keep with the poults as long as possible, which she is not likely to do after she commences laying. Silky fowls are strongly recommended by some, and they unquestionably constitute admirable mothers.

Hens with feathered legs are not desirable, as they are very frequently afflicted with what is known as "scurfy legs," a very obnoxious disease, which is caused by minute parasites that breed