Poachers and Poaching. 



Such dogs never bark, and, being rough coated, 

 are able to stand the exposure of cold nights. 

 They take long to train, but when perfected are 

 invaluable to the poacher. Upon them almost 

 wholly depends success. 



Poaching is one of the fine arts, and the most 

 successful poacher is always a specialist. He 

 selects one kind of game, and his whole know- 

 ledge of woodcraft is directed against it. In 

 autumn and winter the " Otter" knows the where- 

 abouts of every hare in the parish ; not only the 

 field in which it is but the very clump of rushes 

 in which is its "form." As puss goes away from 

 the prickly gorse bush, or flies down the turnip 

 "rigg," he notes her every twist and double, and 

 takes in the minutest details. He is also careful to 

 examine the " smoots " and gates through which 

 she passes, and these spots he always approaches 

 laterally. He leaves no scent of hand nor print 

 of foot, and does not disturb rough herbage. 

 Late afternoon brings him home, and upon the 

 clean sanded floor his wires and nets are spread. 

 There is a peg to sharpen and a broken mesh to 

 mend. Every now and then he looks out upon 

 the darkening night, always directing his glance 

 upward. His dogs whine impatiently to be 

 gone. In an hour, with bulky pockets, he starts, 

 striking across the land and away from the high- 

 road. The dogs prick out their ears upon the 

 track, but stick doggedly to his heels. After a 



