THE FAERY YEAR 



rabbit that I shot, being, for one thing, unable by 

 eye and finger to judge its merit or demerit for the 

 table. But in thorough rabbit districts the villager 

 is quite a connoisseur in conies. When a rabbit 

 slightly above the average in fitness is shot or snared, 

 it is often remarked on. Village sportsmen can 

 hardly shoot a rabbit without discovering its excel- 

 lence " a fine rabbit too " is the frequent verdict. 

 Others, who do not shoot or beat, have something 

 to tell each other about the rabbits in a particular 

 field or spinney. 



When parish councils were set up, some villagers, 

 who were " no hand at reading," and looked for oral 

 information in these things, believed they would at 

 length have all the rabbits they chose. The new 

 measure was welcomed accordingly. Enthusiasm 

 waned rather when not a man in the village was 

 found to be a rabbit the richer. 



This interest in rabbits of itself might explain 

 the fame of Buck ; but, besides, hers was a strong, 

 singular personality. She had retired from the 

 business some time before she died about a year ago, 

 but her fame had scarcely lessened in the neighbour- 

 hood. To-day, when the leaf is off and rabbit 

 shooting in full swing, we naturally talk of her. 

 This resolute poacher had been to gaol two or three 

 times for refusing, or being unable, to pay her fines, 

 but she was no wastrel. She tried to keep the bit 

 she made by poaching, but her first husband was 

 thriftless, and once, when she was in gaol, he sold 

 and drank away the pigs which she had bought out 

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