GAME LAWS. 297 



ment. A tax of two guineas was first imposed on 

 all persons who should go out in pursuit of game ; 

 but the price of the certificate was afterwards 

 raised to three guineas, and subsequently to three 

 and a half guineas. The property qualification is 

 abolished, and now any person who has taken out 

 a certificate and obtained permission from the owner 

 or tenant of the land, in which soever the right at 

 the time may happen to be, is privileged to kill 

 game at all seasonable times. During a long period 

 the sale of game was prohibited, which gave a pe- 

 culiar value to it, as it was not attainable by any 

 but qualified and certificated persons and their 

 friends, except by indirect means. It is now 

 publicly sold by persons taking out licences for 

 the purpose, and such licenced persons are liable to 

 penalties, and are incapacitated from renewing their 

 licences, should they purchase game from any but 

 duly certificated sportsmen. The licenced dealers 

 are, however, largely supplied by poachers, not- 

 withstanding the penalties to which they subject 

 themselves by trading with uncertificated persons. 

 Falconry fell into dissuetude in the days of the 

 Georges. It is now scarcely known but by name, 

 although the honorary distinction of hereditary 

 Grand Falconer of England is still extant. As fal- 

 conry fell into disuse, another kind of sport, which 

 is now considered as disreputable, and practised 

 only by poachers, was pursued by the country 

 gentlemen ; the capturing of birds of the game 

 species by means of nets and setting dogs. The 

 dogs were trained to lie down when near to game, 



