50 The Confessions of a Poacher. 



interfere with the, working of the net as to 

 allow the birds time to escape. We were 

 never much troubled, however, in this way. 

 As opportunity offered the quick-thorns were 

 torn up, and a dead black-thorn bough took 

 their place. As the thorns were low the dif- 

 ference was never noticed, even by the keepers, 



and, of course, thev were carefully removed 



j j 



before, and replaced after, netting. Even 

 when the dodge was detected the fields and 

 fallows had been pretty much stripped of the 

 birds. This method is impracticable now, as 

 the modern method of reaping leaves the 

 brittle stubble as bare as the squire's lawn. 

 We had always a great objection to use a 

 wide net where a narrow one would suit the 

 purpose. Among turnips, and where large 

 numbers of birds were supposed to lie, a 

 number of rows or " riggs " were taken at a 

 time, until the whole of the ground had been 

 traversed. This last method is one that re- 

 quires time and a knowledge of the keeper's 

 beat. On rough ground the catching of the 

 net may be obviated by having about eighteen' 



