ON THE THEFT OF LIVE GAME. 



109 



CHAPTER V. 



ON THE THEFT OF LIVE GA:\IE. 



Night Poacliing— How to Defeat tlie Poaclier's Object— Stacks or 

 Feeding-Places to be well Watched— Months in which Poachers 

 are most Active— Game-Dealers and Poachers— How the Thieves 

 Proceed— A London Poacher Caught; what he had in his 

 Pocket— How they Deceive the Keepers— Over-Preservation— 

 Good Sense and Vigilance will get over Difficulties— To take 

 the Wind out of the Sails of the Stump Orators. 



In describing the various ways of stealing game, 

 perhaps it will be best to begin with night poach- 

 ino-, and the use of the poacher's gun; for as 

 regards this noisy way of depredation, very great 

 mistakes have arisen as^to the nights that arc 

 likeliest for this robbery to be attempted : foolish 

 songs about its being the nocturnal thief's " delight 

 on a shiny night/' whereas a bright moonlight 

 nia-ht would be the furthest off from the thief's 

 selection when contemplating this inroad on private 

 property. Pheasants will not sit to be shot at on 



