QUALIFICATION FOR HEAD GAilEXEEPER. 25 



dogs, and sell them for their own profit. This I never 

 allowed, for instead of his time being occupied in looking 

 after poachers, and destroying vermin, and some other 

 minor duties, which as a trusty servant he is bound to 

 fulfil, most of these must be neglected when he is em- 

 ployed in breaking young pointers and setters, and 

 showing their performance in the field to those gentle- 

 men who are desirous of becoming purchasers ; besides, 

 these dogs are in all probability kept at the expense of the 

 master. Strict sobriety should be conspicuous in the 

 character of a gamekeeper ; for when he has once in- 

 dulged in the habit of frequenting the alehouse or beer- 

 shup, then the poacher is on the alert, and feels quite 

 certain of meeting with no interruption to his un- 

 lawful pursuit. Drunkenness is a serious vice in all 

 servants, but in a gamekeeper, who has a great la- 

 titude, it is thoroughly disqualifying. A gamekeeper 

 should never be allowed to have rabbil^ as his jDer- 

 quisite, for when once this is granted you may be 

 quite certain that the woods, plantations, and hedgerows 

 will soon be overrun with them. The mischief they 

 do is very great during the winter in barking trees, 

 and in the fields by burrowing and stopping up the 

 drains. It is all very well to have a moderate stock of 

 rabbits on an estate. As foxes are particularly fond of 

 this food, they afford some protection to the hares, 

 pheasants, and partridges, from this sly and cunning foe; 

 besides, a few rabbits are always very acceptable to the 

 lady of the house, the servants are fond of them, and 

 they may be dressed in a variety of ways for the dining- 

 room table, and thus diminish the butcher's bill. If a 

 gentleman finds his game gradually diminishing on his 

 estate, he may be quite certain of this, that his game- 



VOL. II. D 



