40 EEMIMSCEXCES OF A SPOETSMAN. 



a gamekeeper, require that lie should have a thorough 

 knowledge how to breed and bring up pheasants and 

 partridges : as the searching after ant eggs, &c., would 

 take up much of his time and cause him to neglect 

 other essential duties. A man or a careful boy should 

 perform these. I shall hereafter describe the method 

 of rearing these birds, which require considerable care 

 and attention whilst very young. As soon as the corn is 

 cut the gamekeeper should see that the fields are carefully 

 bushed ; and barley, when rolled, should have here and 

 there brambles, prickles downwards, and the ends stuck 

 in the ground, which will grow and continue the colour 

 of the corn ; these prevent barley being drawn by nets 

 while standing. The turnip field should also be bushed 

 as soon as it has been hoed. To prevent gate-netting, 

 bush the bottoms of the gate, which will prevent 

 the hares drawing under them ; where you find the 

 bottoms of gates unbushed, drive two or three lath nails 

 into their tops, and barways, which will cause the nets 

 to hang and let the hares out. Put small benders over 

 their main paths, close up all their tracks through 

 fences, &c. : by doing this they will top the hedges 

 when forced by the poachers' lurchers. 



It is right for the keeper to be on the watch at all 

 times, more especially late in the evenings, when yoi:. 

 generally hear the hares cry *, and the pheasants flutter ; 

 and if there should be any person in the wood you will 

 find it out by the wood-pigeons, crows, and rooks being on 

 the wing. In a field, of a still evening, you will hear 

 the drag-net brushing over the stubbles. It has also 

 been ascertained that partridges have been taken by 



* You hear the ciy of the liares when taken in a snare or by gate- 



