TROOTS. 95 



and punishing the men who buy the poached 

 game, and thus prevent the poacher from getting 

 rid of his ill-gotten gains. It must, I suppose, 

 be conceded that the regular poacher is a selfish 

 individual, otherwise he would not be oblivious to 

 the misery he brings upon his wife and family, 

 if he has any. At the start of his career he 

 may not be an altogether despicable creature, 

 but when he becomes a drunkard and a thief 

 he ought to be ostracised from all society. 



