332 APPENDIX. 



sheltering foliage. His pulling the string raises the perch. The owl, 

 to preserve its balance, flutters its wings. This is sure to attract the 

 notice of the neighbouring magpies, hawks, crows, &c. Some from 

 curiosity hover about, or, still chattering and peering, alight on the 

 neighbouring trees (of course, standing invitingly within gun-shot) ; 

 others, having no longer any reverence for the bird of Wisdom in his 

 present helpless condition, wheel round and round, every moment 

 taking a sly peck at their fancied enemy, while their real foe sends 

 their death-warrant from his impervious ambuscade. 



Talking of vermin, I am reminded that J s H d, an old 



gamekeeper with whom I am acquainted, avers that one of his craft 

 can hardly be worth his salt unless he possesses " a regular good 

 varmint of a dog." It should be of a dark colour, not to betray so 

 readily the movements of his master to interested parties. He says 

 he once owned one, a bull-terrier, that was, to again quote the old 

 man's words, " worth his weight in gold to a gamekeeper;" that it 

 was incredible the quantity of ground- vermin, of every kind, the dog 

 killed, which included snakes and adders destroyers of young birds 

 of every sort, and it is said of eggs (but this it is difficult to conceive, 

 unless we imagine them to be crushed in the same manner as the 

 boa-constrictor murders his victims, a supposition without a shadow 

 of proof small eggs, however, might be swallowed whole), that he 

 was perpetually hunting, but never noticed game had an excellent 

 nose, and, on occasions when he could not run into the vermin, 

 would unerringly lead his master to the hole in the old bank, tree, or 

 pile of fagots where it had taken refuge ; when, if it was a stoat or 

 weasel, and in a place where the report of a gun was not likely to 

 disturb game, the keeper would bring him into " heel," wait patiently 

 awhile, and then, by imitating the cry of a distressed rabbit, endeavour 

 to entice the delinquent to come forth and be shot. If this ruse 



failed, H d quickly prepared a trap that generally sealed the fate 



of the destructive little creature. As the dog retrieved all he caught, 

 the old barn-door was always well covered with recent trophies. Old 

 trophies afford no evidence of a keeper's diligence. 



The dog invariably accompanied his master during his rounds at 

 night, and had great talents for discovering any two-legged intruder. 

 On finding one he would quietly creep up, and then, by running 

 round and round him as if prepared every moment to make a spring, 

 detain him until joined by the keeper ; all the while barking furiously 

 and adroitly avoiding every blow aimed at his sconce.* 



* If you are attacked by a dog generally disable the strongest 



when you have the good fortune dog. Consider how feelingly alive 



to be armed with a shilelagh, do your own shins are to the slightest 



not hit him across the head and rap. I have in India seen a 



eyes ; bear in mind that the front vicious horse quite cowed under 



part of his fore legs is a far more such discipline, and a really 



vulnerable and sensitive spot. savage nag in that country is, to 



One or two well applied blows use an expression common among 



upon that unprotected place will the natives, a fellow who would 



