Field and Covert Poachers. 229 



keeping the wandering pheasants on the land, a 

 poor show of birds may be the result when 

 October comes round, and the keeper's reputa- 

 tion suffers. Even the audacious pies steal both 

 pheasant and partridge chicks, and consequently 

 each find a place in the " larder." The brown- 

 owl is mostly a rabbit poacher, but its congener, 

 the barn-owl, poaches to good effect, as a subse- 

 quent statement will show. Almost all the birds 

 of the crow-kind are persistent poachers, and are 

 generally shot down. 



It is probable that the number of grouse on the 

 higher hill ranges is very much kept in check by 

 the great number of carrion-crows which every- 

 where exist among the fells. They impale the 

 eggs of the red grouse upon their bills, and carry 

 them away to eat at leisure. Under some wall 

 or rock great numbers of egg-shells may often 

 be found, testifying to the havoc which these 

 sable marauders commit. This bird is one of the 

 great features of the northern fell fauna, and is 

 well known to the dalesmen and shepherds, who 

 give it a bad character. In spite of much perse- 

 cution, however, it is still a common resident, 

 keeping to the sheep-walks in search of food, and 

 breeding among the mountains. Although a 

 great carrion-feeder, it will kill weak and ailing 

 lambs, picking out the eyes and tongues of these 

 when they are reduced to a helpless condition. 

 They are resident birds in the north, and only 



