144 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



is necessary. A high road flanked by a large 

 wood is usually the scene of operations; the 

 birds fly within a few yards of the shooters, 

 sailing down the alleys of the cover and crossing 

 the road with a noiseless owl-like motion of the 

 wings, as different as possible from the rapid 

 dashing flight that characterizes them when 

 flushed during the winter. They are, moreover, 

 generally feeble and emaciated, and altogether 

 unworthy of the attention of the sportsman or 

 the epicure.* 



At this season, and even during moonlight 

 winter nights a very destructive mode of fowling is 

 still practised in certain parts of England, but more 

 frequently in some of the Western counties and 

 in "Wales than elsewhere. Light nets with wide 

 meshes are slung across the rides in the great 

 covers, the ends being either supported on poles, 

 or slightly attached to the upper branches of trees 

 on both sides of the ride, or near a gateway over 

 which woodcocks have been observed to pass. 



* I am aware that, by a clause introduced a few years ago 

 into the game laws, this offence is supposed to be legally liable 

 to punishment ; but practically the measure is generally found 

 to be inefficient. A case occurred lately within my own know- 

 ledge, where a party of these turnpike poachers, although 

 captured ( in Jlagrante delicto,' were acquitted by the Solons 

 of a country bench. Yet the case was palpably within the 

 meaning of the act. 



