1)16 }^\AlsCAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



j)lies to taking hares with hare- pipes, snares, or other engines. By the 

 •22nd & 23rd Charles II., c. 25, persons detected setting snares, &c.,must 

 recompense the injury, and pay down instantly ten shillings for the use 

 of tlie poor, or be committed to the house of correction. One witness 

 and one justice only necessary for conviction; but the charge must be 

 brought forward witliin one month after the offence. 



Rabbits. — By 3rd James I., no person has a right to kill rabbits, 

 unless he is possessed of hereditaments of the yearly value of forty 

 pounds, or be worth in goods two hundred pounds, or have an inclosed 

 rabbit-warren of the value of forty shillings a year. An infringement 

 of this law subjects the offender to have his dogs or engines seized by 

 a7it/ person having hereditaments in fee, in tail, or for life, of the an- 

 nual value of one hundred pounds in his own right, or that of his wife, 

 who is entitled to keep them for her own use. — 3rd James I. 



Any person who enters the ground lawfully used for breeding or 

 keeping rabbits, (whether inclosed or not), and chases or kills any of 

 these animals, without leave of the owner, or without having lawful 

 title to do so, shall, upon conviction by one witness, or his own con- 

 fession before a justice, forfeit treble damages and costs, be imprisoned 

 for three months, and find security for future good behaviour ; (prose- 

 cution must, however, be commenced before the expiration of one month 

 after the offence has been committed ;) and make such satisfaction as 

 the justice shall think proper; and forfeit, for the use of the poor, 

 a sum not exceeding ten shillings, or be committed to the house of cor- 

 rection for a term not exceeding one month. The same penalty applies 

 to setting snares or other engines. — 22nd & 23rd Charles II., c. 25. 



By 9th Geo. I., c. 22, (usually called the Black Act,) any person en- 

 tering, armed and disguised, any grounds where rabbits are lawfully 

 kept, and robbing the same, or who shall, though not armed and dis- 

 guised, rescue any person in custody for such an offence, or procure any 

 person to join him in such an act, such person shall be deemed guilty 

 of felony without benefit of clergy. 



By the 5th Geo. III., c. 14, it is transportation for seven years, or 

 such lesser punishment by whipping, imprisonment, or fine, as the 

 court shall think fit, for any person entering any rabbit-ground during 

 the night, and taking or killing any rabbit, or aiding and assisting 

 in such act, without the consent of the owner. 



But in cases where rabbits come upon the ground of another and 

 destroy his corn or herbage, it is lawful for the injured person to shoot 

 them . 



Pigeons. — Any person who shall shoot or destroy a domestic pigeon, 

 shall, on conviction, before one justice, by the oath of two persons, or on 

 his own confession, pay, for the use of the poor, twenty shillings for every 

 pigeon, or be committed to gaol for three months ; and within one month 

 thereafter find securities not to offend again. — 2nd Geo. II., c. 29. 



By 7th & 8th Geo. IV., c. 29, s. 33, if any person shall unlawfully 



