AND TRICKS OF KEEPERS. 



Be very cautious whom you trust with fowling-pieces ; 

 they are not so often required, as keepers would wish 

 to persuade you they are; and do not be led away 

 with the mistaken notion, that it will be a protection to 

 your game to have a dozen fellows running about with 

 guns in their hands. It may be asked, How then are 

 the various kinds of vermin to be destroyed ? To which 

 I would answer, that, if a keeper cannot effect this by 

 means of traps, gins, poison, and the various other 

 artifices, he is by no means qualified for his place. 

 And, with regard to hawks and other mischievous 

 birds, these underlings have only to keep a sharp look 

 out, in the breeding season, to find their nests, and 

 then take the head keeper, or some one proper to be 

 trusted with a gun, to shoot them. 



In case it should be considered unsafe for keepers to 

 go their nightly rounds without fire-arms, I should rather 

 recommend the use of pistols than guns, though I have 

 little doubt but a fierce dog, and a sabre or a bludgeon, 

 would effectually answer the purpose of defence against 

 poachers. If you have reason to expect a gang of 

 poachers, that may be too strong for your keepers, let 

 some one go through your covers, and thrash away at 

 all the trees till he has driven the pheasants from their 

 roost. Having then spoiled the night's sport, you may 

 go home and sleep in peace. This was the plan of 

 my friend, the late Mr. Ponton, who, with only one 

 regular keeper, had plenty of pheasants, in the midst of 

 poachers. 



The real way to keep up a good stock of game, we 

 may rest assured, is, first, to be well guarded against 

 such incursions as those previously alluded to. Se- 

 condly, to get the poachers watched at their own 



