412 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



preserving counties have in many cases combined together to 

 form associations for the protection of 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 llth hunting the 

 moors with a steady close-ranging pointer. Sometimes it is 

 related that a lantern was suspended from the neck of the dog 

 in order that his movements might 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 

 workmanship, usually made of silk, very light and very strong. 



The only time when Grouse still can 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 t hat- 

 in certain districts this form of poaching is carried on. As the 

 majority of " corn-feeders " are young birds, this form of poach- 

 ing is specially harmful to a moor. There is no excuse for the 

 gamekeeper who permits it. The cornfields to which the Grouse 

 resort, and the hours at which they feed, are perfectly well 

 known, and it is the duty of the gamekeeper to be constantly 

 on the spot. 



The subject of poaching cannot be considered complete 

 without some reference to the pastime of " Grouse-becking " 

 as practised in the north of England. Becking has already 

 been mentioned in another part of the Report, 1 and the manner 

 in which this habit of the bird has been utilised by poachers 



1 Chap. i. ]. 24. 



