56 THE NEW FOREST 



When I came to the Forest there were but 

 four responsible keepers left. As their colleagues 

 had died or retired, under keepers were appointed 

 in their places. These men were under no super- 

 vision but that of the Deputy Surveyor, and, as 

 they were as a rule merely promoted labourers, 

 they were not the class of man to be allowed to 

 act independently. No definite orders had ever 

 been given to them, and they seemed to think 

 that so long as they looked after the preserva- 

 tion of foxes and pheasants, and kept a mild check 

 on poaching, generally all the rest might be 

 allowed to slide. Rabbits were supposed to be 

 kept down by the keepers in the plantations, but 

 they never accounted for them when killed, and 

 everything in the shape of rare birds that they 

 could get hold of they regarded as perquisites. 

 With some trouble I discovered the Southampton 

 bird-stuffer who was in the habit of regularly 

 paying them 3s. 6d. per head for all kingfishers 

 he could get. Everything in the shape of a 

 bird of prey was, of course, looked upon as 

 vermin, killed, and if possible sold. Had it not 

 been for this laxity, the honey buzzard might 

 have continued to be a far more regular breeder 

 in the Forest than I have found it to be. 



The four remaining head keepers, though they 

 had far higher pay and better houses than the 



