OF SHOOTING. 37 



the whole of the season ; on the contrary, if the least 

 drop of water touch the inside, the poison will dis- 

 solve, and hecome useless tallow will be a strong 

 inducement for dogs to take it. 



As this vile method is sometimes used for the 

 purpose of preserving grouse, it may not be amiss to 

 inform the reader in what manner the pills are dis- 

 posed. They are placed in a sort of line round the 

 grounds or mountains meant to be preserved, and a 

 second line placed at some distance within the first; 

 in order that in case the dog misses the first line, he 

 may take the second. The pills are placed on the 

 top of a snaall stone, a bit of wood, or other thing, 

 so as to prevent them touching the ground ; at the 

 same time, the heath is drawn round to hide the 

 treacherous death from human inspection. The 

 places where the poison is laid are so marked, as to 

 enable the keepers to pick up every pill whenever 

 they think proper; as, were it not for this method, 

 it would preclude the owner, as well as strangers, 

 from shooting upon such grounds. 



To the credit, however, of Great Britain, this 

 abominable method of preserving game is practised 

 only on the other side St. George's Channel. 



In Ireland, I understand, the poisoning system is 

 jrequently resorted to ; in which case a printed no- 

 tice is issued, stating that poison is laid irr such 

 grounds. 



Of all methods hitherto adopted for the preserva- 

 tion of game, no one is so execrable as poisoning. 



