PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



lies on the ground it succumbs to a bait consisting of a piece 

 of fat or a little scattered maize. The reader needs to 

 commence proceedings at once on the appearance of hard 

 weather, as the Jay soon begins to reap a rich harvest among 

 half-starved and v^^eakened small members of the feathered 

 kind, and then will not look at a bait, however cleverly- 

 disposed or enticing it be. Young Jays just fledged are 

 not difficult to trap while they linger in the vicinity of the 

 nest." 



Both Magpies and Jays go to roost just before dark, so 

 that if a watcher conceals himself after he has got a live 

 bird trapped to call others, or by the aid of an artificial call, 

 he can often shoot a number in this way. Although illegal, 

 poisoned baits are sometimes employed, and the keeper 

 gets rid of many of his enemies by this means, but unless 

 particular care is exercised more damage may be done than 

 is justifiable. 



Hawks 



Both sparrow and kestrel Hawks are enemies of the 

 gamekeeper, but the sparrow-hawk is the one against 

 which the keeper devotes his particular attention. It is 

 most destructive to young birds, and the more of these that 

 a keeper can hang between his vermin poles the better 

 for the game on the estate. 



The best plan is to shoot them and to destroy all nests, 

 though many keepers trap them. Both large and small 

 Hawk traps can be obtained. Some of them have teeth, 

 others are without. They are made with jaws, and range from 

 4 to 8 inches, the larger ones being particularly suitable for 



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