WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 141 



and the farmer kills his rabbit pretty much where he 

 likes, in moderation. 



He is seldom seen without a gun on his shoulder 

 from November till towards the end of January. No 

 matter whether he strolls to the arable field, or down 

 the meadows, or across the footpath to a neighbour's 

 house, the inevitable double-barrel accompanies him. 

 To those who live much out of doors a gun is a natural 

 and almost a necessary companion, whether there be 

 much or little to shoot ; and in this desultory way, 

 without much method or set sport, he and his friends, 

 often meeting and joining forces, find sufficient ground 

 game and wild-fowl to give them plenty of amusement. 

 When the hedges are bare of leaves the rabbit-burrows 

 are ferreted : the holes can be more conveniently 

 approached then, and the frost is supposed to give 

 the rabbit a better flavour. 



About Christmas time, half in joke and -half in 

 earnest, a small party often agree to shoot as many 

 blackbirds as they can, if "possible to make up the 

 traditional twenty-four for a pie. The blackbird pie 

 is, of course, really an occasion for a social gathering, 

 at which cards and music are forthcoming. Though 

 blackbirds abound in every hedge, it is by no means 

 an easy task to get the required number just when 

 wanted. After January the guns are laid aside, 

 though some ferreting is still going on. 



The better class of farmers keep hunters, and ride 

 constantly to the hounds ; so do some of the lesser 

 men who " make " hunters, and ride not only for 



