CHATS ABOUT PHEASANTS. 385 



before the covers are shot over, the pheasants 

 have dwindled down to one-half of the original 

 number, through being poached whilst straying 

 from the cover. 



By feeding in this manner you collect a 

 large number of birds together in one spot, the 

 poachers go with their guns to that spot, 

 whistle up the birds, and make off with four or 

 five brace before the keeper can reach them. 

 Rather unsatisfactory for the keeper, eh ? 

 This is the way in which most keepers feed 

 their birds in the wood ; and, of course they 

 have a right to feed in their own fashion, and 

 I have just as much right to feed in mine, so 

 I will relate my way. 



The great art of keepering is to keep your 

 birds at home in their covers. I don't have a 

 feeding place in one spot, but choose three or 

 four acres of young wood, wood of one or two 

 years' growth, that has plenty of leaves on the 

 stubs, and in the ditches. I throw the corn 

 amongst the leaves in the most difficult places 

 I can find, so as to give the pheasants a job 

 that will keep them at home in the woods all 



V 



