50 BIRD LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



set springes in his master's woods. In this case, he supplies 

 the family with birds, which are highly appreciated as a 

 delicacy, especially when almost covered with butter, with 

 a few juniper berries, and some bacon cut into small dice 

 and baked in a pan ; the rest, of his take he sells at from 

 5d. to Wd. per dozen. 



" ISTo person who has not lived in the country can imagine 

 the excitement among all classes when the Grieves arrive. 

 If the morning be foggy, it is a good day for Grieves ; if 

 bright, bad Tenderie ! The reason is obvious : when the 

 birds arrive in a fog, they settle at once in the woods ; if 

 bright, they fly about seeking the most propitious place for 

 food. I may observe a singular feeling of honour is en- 

 gendered by this pursuit. Nobody will think of injuring 

 his neighbour's Tenderie ; a sportsman would carefully avoid 

 deranging the springes. If, when shooting in your own 

 covers, a few are taken for the table, you would hang a franc 

 piece conspicuously in an empty springe for every dozen 

 birds taken. The law is very severe on poachers who place 

 a springe on the ground to take partridges, woodcocks, or 

 snipes ; but if three feet above ground, the law says nothing, 

 and save as a trespasser, the placer of springes in the trees of 

 a wood not his own property would not be punishable. The 

 number taken is prodigious as many as one hundred and 

 fifty thrushes have been found executed in a Tenderie in 

 one morning. The younger members of families of the 

 highest ranks commonly follow this amusement before a 

 gun is placed in their hands. 



" It may be readily imagined that before five thousand 

 springes are set in a Tenderie of four or five acres, a fortnight 

 or three weeks will have elapsed, even should the grocer, the 

 linendraper, or publican, be assisted by his wife and children. 

 The amusement is common to all the family wife, boys, and 

 girls. Many a small tradesman eats little else during his 

 vacation at his Tenderie besides Grieves and Buem. From 

 Liege to Tilf , thence to Ayvale on the rivers Meuse, Outhe, 



