1 1 2 The Confessions of a 'Poacher. 



fences. The casualties mostly occurred during 

 "thick" weather, or when the mists had 

 clung to the hills for days. At such times 

 grouse fly low, and strike before seeing the 

 obstacle. I never failed to note the mist- 

 caps hanging to the fell-tops, and then, bag in 

 hand, walked parallel to miles and miles of 

 flimsy fence. Sometimes a dozen brace of 

 birds were picked up in a morning ; and, on the 

 lower grounds, an occasional partridge, wood- 

 cock, or snipe. 



Grouse are the only game that ever tempted 

 me to poach during close time, and then I only 

 erred by a few days. Birds sold in London on 

 the morning of the " Twelfth" bring the big- 

 gest prices of the season, and to supply the 

 demand was a temptation I could never resist. 

 Many a " Squire," many a Country Justice 

 has been tempted as I was, and fell as I fell. 

 It is not too much to say that every one of the 

 three thousand birds sold in London on the 

 opening day has been poached during the 

 "fence" time. In the north, country station- 

 masters find hampers dropped on their plat- 



