1 1 6 The Confessions of a Poacher. 



where the birds roost, and once this is dis- 

 covered the rest is easy. The net is trailed 

 along the ground by two men, and dropped in- 

 stantly on the whirr of wings. The springing 

 of the birds is the only guide in the darkness, 

 though the method skilfully carried out is most 

 destructive, and sometimes a whole covey is 

 is bagged at one sweep. Silk nets have three 

 good qualities for night work, those made of 

 any other material being cumbersome and 

 nearly useless. They are light, strong, and 

 are easily carried. It is well to have about 

 eighteen inches of glazed material along the 

 bottom of the net, or it is apt to catch in 

 dragging. Where poaching is practised, keepers 

 often place in the likeliest places a number of 

 strong stakes armed with protruding nails. 

 These, however, may be removed and re- 

 planted after the night's work ; or, just at dusk 

 a bunch of white feathers may be tied to point 

 the position of each. 



The planting of grain patches along the 

 moor-side has been mentioned, and on these in 

 late autumn great numbers of birds are bagged. 



