128 The Amateur Poacher 



In February, unless it be a mild season, the mounds 

 are still bare ; and then under the bushes the ground 

 may be sometimes seen strewn with bulbous roots, 

 apparently of the blue-bell, lying thickly together 

 and entirely exposed. 



The moucher now carries a bill-hook, and as he 

 shambles along the road keeps a sharp look-out for 

 briars. When he sees one the roots of which are not 

 difficult to get at, and whose tall upright stem is 

 green if dark it is too old he hacks it off with as 

 much of the root as possible. The lesser branches 

 are cut, and the stem generally trimmed ; it is then 

 sold to the gardeners as the stock on which to graft 

 standard roses. In a few hours as he travels he will 

 get together quite a bundle of such briars. He also 

 collects moss, which is sold for the purpose of placing 

 in flowerpots to hide the earth. The moss preferred 

 is that growing on and round stoles. 



The melting of the snow and the rains in February 

 cause the ditches to overflow and form shallow pools 

 in the level meadows. Into these sometimes the 

 rooks wade as far as the length of their legs allows 

 them, till the discoloured yellow water almost touches 

 the lower part of the breast. The moucher searches 

 for small shell snails, of which quantities are sold as 

 food for cage birds, and cuts small ' turfs ' a few inches 



