2 2 Po a ch e rs and Po a ch ing. 



bulky forms stand sharply outlined against the 

 sky, and they are often on the lower branches. 

 If the firing does not immediately bring up the 

 keepers, the game is quickly deposited in bags 

 and the gang makes off. It not unfrequently 

 happens that a light cart is waiting to receive the 

 men at some grassy lane end. But the moucher 

 obtains his game in a quieter way. He eschews 

 the preserves, and looks up outlying birds. He 

 always carries a pocketful of corn, and day 

 by day entices the birds further and further 

 away. This accomplished he may snare them : 

 and take them in iron traps. He sometimes uses 

 a gun, but only when other methods have failed. 

 A common and successful way he has is to 

 light brimstone beneath the trees in which the 

 pheasants roost. The powerful fumes soon over- 

 power the birds, and they come flapping down 

 the trees one by one. This method has the 

 advantage of silence, and if the night is still need 

 not be detected. Away from the preserves time 

 is no object, and so the moucher who works 

 systematically, and is content with a brace of 

 birds at a time, usually gets the most in the end, 

 with least chance of capture. The pugnacity of 

 the pheasant is well known to him, and out of 

 this trait he makes capital. When the where- 

 abouts of the keeper is known, he takes under 

 his arm a game cock fitted with artificial spurs. 

 These are attached to the natural ones, are sharp 



