The Confessions of a 'Poacher. 131 



rest, and were religiously preserved. Upon 

 these the keepers kept a close watch, and when 

 any were missing it was suspected what was 

 going on, when the watching strength was 

 increased. As soon as we detected the trick, 

 we were careful to let the coloured rabbits go 

 free. We found that it was altogether to our 

 interest to preserve them. 



During night poaching for rabbits and hares 

 the ground game is driven from its feeding 

 ground to the woods or copses. Precisely the 

 reverse method is employed during the day 

 when the game is in cover. The practice 

 is to find a spinny in which both rabbits and 

 hares are known to lie ; and then to set purse 

 nets on the outside of every opening which 

 may possibly be used by the frightened animals. 

 The smaller the wood or patch of cover the 

 easier it is to work. A man, with or without 

 a dog, enters the covert, and his presence soon 

 induces the furry denizens to bolt. As these 

 rush through their customary runs they find 

 themselves in the meshes of a net, and every 

 struggle only makes them faster. This method 



