xii. PHEASANT SHOOTING (PART III) 203 



a ' stop ' on both sides. If ' stopped ' only on one side, 

 the birds may run gaily along the other. 



Poachers and their devices I will not treat of, as 

 revelations of this kind do more harm than good. 

 Describing where to look for a snare might tell some 

 people where to set one, and illustrating poaching 

 dodges is a means, it should be recollected, of in- 

 struction as well as detection. 



Watchfulness on the part of keepers will prevent 

 poaching in any form. 



There is no surer sign that a wood has been un- 

 disturbed than the presence therein of its proper 

 number of hares. If you wish to prevent your 

 pheasants from straying, and at the same time give 

 them protection, plant some osier beds on your 

 boundaries. Willows will grow almost anywhere ; 

 and a drain or two purposely blocked up will cause 

 them to flourish even on dry land, and their return 

 in income is seldom at a loss. 



Hares delight in osier beds, and a dog cannot 

 c-luise a hare in them at all, though every gipsy or 

 tinker that passes by may have a try with his clever 

 ' snap dog ' if he likes. His dog will either make a 

 rush, and tumble with a howl over an osier stump, or 

 return limping to his master with a ' What did you 



I me in there for ? ' sort of expression. When you 

 propose to plant an osier bed or a new covert for game 



