58 THE GROUSE 



the Night Poaching Acts, applicable to 

 and varying somewhat in their application 

 to England, Scotland, and Ireland. Acts 

 prohibiting the use or laying down of 

 poisonous substances for the destruction 

 of game and other protected birds and 

 their eggs. The Poaching Prevention 

 Act, 1862. The Ground Game Act, 1880. 

 Acts relating to the times and seasons for 

 killing game and the selling thereof. Acts 

 relating to muir burning. And various 

 other measures, all of which are fenced 

 with penalties of fine or imprisonment, 

 and bristle with phrases of doubtful in- 

 terpretation. 



While the number and intricacy of 

 these statutes do sometimes exercise the 

 wit and ingenuity of even the legally 

 trained mind, not a little light has been 

 thrown on them by successive decisions 

 of the Courts ; and the experienced and 

 tactful gamekeeper may now, perhaps, 

 steer his way in ordinary cases through 

 the shoals and dangers of poaching law 

 with comparative confidence. But it is 



