102 THE PHEASANT. 



a gun ; the report of which is sure to bring an 

 attentive keeper to the scene of their night's di- 

 version. 



To the illegal possession of the pheasant, alone, 

 may be traced the cause of all the sanguinary noc- 

 turnal conflicts between the poachers and those 

 who are appointed to watch for its safety. The 

 poacher is well aware that he cannot procure phea- 

 sants without the aid of a gun ; and he knows, at 

 the same time, that the report of that gun will be- 

 tray him, and bring up the watchers, against whom 

 he would have no chance, single-handed. Where- 

 fore, in order that he may come off victorious, he 

 musters an overwhelming force of tinkers, cobblers, 

 masons, smiths, and labourers, armed with blud- 

 geons, and, perhaps, here and there a rusty gun. 

 Taking the precaution to get well primed with beer, 

 off they go, fully bent on having every thing their 

 own way. The pheasants fall ; the watchers come 

 up ; oaths and curses are poured out, and a des- 

 perate fray commences. Here are furnished, work 

 important for the nearest magistrate, profit to his 

 clerk, expense to the county, and practice for Mr. 

 Ketch. Let it be also observed, that the unlawful 

 capture of the hare and the partridge (which are 

 really ferae, natura) does not produce similar work 

 of mischief. These are taken with nets and snares. 

 The fewer poachers employed, the more certain is 

 their success. A number of men would only do 

 harm, and mar the plan of capture. So silently is 

 this mode of poaching carried on, that the owner 

 of the soil is not aware of the loss he is about to 



