420 THE GAME PRESERVER'S GUIDE. 



but, beginning with a single hare or partridge, they have 

 incurred the displeasure of their master, have been thrown 

 out of work, and almost compelled to carry on their unlawful 

 vocation. From all these the keepers and watchers have to 

 protect the game, and this at all hours and seasons. Every 

 year they assume some new mode of attack, and countermine 

 as fast as the keeper forms his schemes for detecting them. 



There are several precautions which every keeper regularly 

 takes, varying according to the locality where his beat is 

 fixed. Everywhere, however, he, as well as all his watchers, 

 must obtain a knowledge of the persons of all the poachers 

 in his district, and this alone will greatly serve to keep them 

 quiet. Poachers will never go, by choice, where they know 

 they are sure to be recognised; while, on the other hand, 

 wherever there is a keeper who relies upon his brute strength, 

 the poacher goes at once, preferring a good thrashing, or 

 the chance of a shot, to the certainty of identification, which 

 spoils all his after prospects. The moment he goes into court 

 all the keepers in the neighbourhood put their mark upon 

 him, and he must work an uphill game in all directions. 

 There are certain nights when the keeper's experience tells 

 him that particular kinds of poaching will be practised, and 

 on these he will take especial care to watch the poacher and 

 all his gang, by the aid of his assistants. In some counties 

 this is comparatively easy, but in wooded districts it is 

 almost impossible, if the poacher's cottage is surrounded by 

 trees; but as far as may be the plan should be carried out, 

 and instead of allowing the poacher to watch him, the 

 keeper should be the most on the alert. In open countries, 

 a telescope serves the cause, and one man on a commanding 

 spot can blockade two or three cottages till the evening sets 

 in, when, to make sure, one watcher must be set on each 

 doubtful offender. In this way it is very difficult to elude 

 detection, and as in very dark, as well as very light, nights 

 nothing will be likely to be attempted, there is nearly half the 

 month in which watching is very little required. In pitch 

 dark nights nothing can be done for want of light, while in 

 strong moonlight identification is almost as easy as in bright 

 daylight and the poacher, unless he is greatly pressed for 

 money, will seldom risk it. A dim light, which will just 



