l8o GROUSE SHOOTING. 



the poacher sets his wires ; lying hid behind a 

 dyke, he watches the birds flock in to feed, and 

 as they peck the corn and are caught by the 

 neck in the wires, they crawl after a struggle or 

 two, in among the corn ; then out comes the 

 poacher to secure the victims and to reset his 

 snares. It is a most deadly system of poach- 

 ing, and should be carefully watched for. As 

 to the ordinary gun-poking poacher, if the 

 sportsman and his keeper are on good terms 

 with the shepherds, there is little to fear from 

 him. No one could possibly shoot on the 

 hills, without being seen by the shepherds, and 

 be it remembered the shepherds have at their 

 mercy all the nests, and all the keepers' traps. 

 One moment's consideration will show how 

 necessary it is to have a good understanding 

 with these men, who are generally honest, in- 

 telligent, and well-educated, and by no means to 

 be confounded with the boors on an English 

 farm, nor are they to be bribed by a half-crown 

 pitched at their feet. Indeed, we should 

 strongly advise any one not gifted with great 

 agility to refrain from the attempt. 



