KEEPERS AND KEEPERING 451 



resemble the levee en masse rather than what might be called the keeper's 

 "level of every days' most quiet need." 



Fortunately for the owners of Grouse moors it is the exception to find 

 the professional class of poacher a very serious menace, owing to the remote- 

 ness of moors from the centres of population. Nevertheless, the 



Grouse 



armed gangs do occasionally turn their attention to Grouse, as may poaching 

 be proved by the supply of freshly killed birds that appear in the 

 windows of the poulterers' shops on the morning of August 12th, earlier than 

 could have been possible had they been killed in the ordinary cour.se of sport. 



Systematic poaching of Grouse for the market is less common now 

 than it was in former years. The increase in value of Grouse moors has led 

 to more careful watching and to more severe prosecution, the pro- i,np,.ove- 

 prietors in the principal game - preserving counties have in many ^f^ee^ve 

 cases combined together to form associations for the protection of "^'^''sures. 

 their sporting rights, and the duty of bringing the wrongdoers to justice 

 has been entrusted to competent men. The habits of the Grouse, too, have 

 changed in recent years ; whether owing to the introduction of driving or 

 because of the destruction of birds of prey, Grouse are much wilder at the 

 beginning of the season than was formerly the case, and on many moors will 

 not sit to dogs at all. 



Twenty years ago it was not uncommon for the poacher's gang to spend 

 the nights of August 10th and 11th hunting the moors with a steady close- 

 ranging pointer. Sometimes it is related that a lantern was sus- grouse 

 pended from the neck of the dog in order that his movements f^form^ 

 naight be followed in the dark. On obtaining a point the poachers ''''^'®' 

 would make a detour, and would gently draw a net down wind towards the 

 •dog and drop it over the covey. These nets were sometimes captured, and 

 may still be seen hanging as trophies on the walls of some of the shooting 

 lodges in the North : they are beautiful pieces of work, usually made of 

 silk, very light and very strong. 



The only time when Grouse can still be poached with ease is towards the end 

 ■of the season when they pack and flock to the low ground to feed on the corn 

 stooks. On these occasions they may be snared by horsehair nooses, 

 and there is no doubt that in certain districts this form of poaching on the 



. . r o stocks. 



is earned on. As the majority of " corn-feeders " are young birds, 



this form of poaching is specially harmful to a moor. There is no excuse 



