Poaching on Wheels. 157 



the ground, when first catching sight of a sitting hare, 

 and then stealthily approach on the opposite side. 

 The hare watches the hat, while the real enemy- 

 comes up unawares, or, if both are seen, he is in 

 doubt which way to dash. On a dull, cold day hares 

 will sit till the sportsman's dogs are nearly on them, 

 almost till he has to kick them out. At other times 

 in the same locality they are, on the contrary, too 

 wild. Occasionally a labourer, perhaps a 'fogger," 

 crossing the meadows with slow steps, finds a rabbit 

 sitting in like manner among the grass or in a dry 

 furrow. Instantly he throws himself all a-sprawl 

 upon the ground, with the hope of pinning the animal 

 to the earth. The manoeuvre, however, frequently 

 fails, and the rabbit slips away out of his very hands. 



The poacher is never at rest ; there is no season 

 when his marauding expeditions cease for awhile : 

 he acknowledges no ' close time ' whatever. Almost 

 every month has its appropriate game for him, and he 

 can always turn his hand to something. In the very 

 heat of the summer there are the young rabbits, for 

 which there is always a sale in the towns, and the 

 leverets, which are easily picked up by a lurcher 

 dog. 



I have known a couple of men take a pony and 

 trap for this special purpose, and make a pleasant 



