-58 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



predation. In fact, poaching has arrived at that 

 pitch of systematic perfection, that no possible me- 

 thod will ever prevent it, but the one above described. 

 Poaching, indeed, may he regarded as a science 

 anxiously and intensely studied by those who profess 

 it, and in which new discoveries are frequently made. 

 For instance, the old method of snaring with wire is, 

 in a great degree, superseded by the purse net, which 

 is not only more certain, but hares may thus be taken 

 alive. A further improvement is, covering them in 

 the day-time with a net, similar to that used for net- 

 ting partridges over a dog, but not so large. Thus a 

 couple of poachers may walk over a manor, at that 

 season of the year when hares forsake the covers and 

 hedges, and destroy almost as many of these animals 

 as they please ; and it is astonishing with what ease 

 a net may be drawn over a hare while sitting. This 

 invention, I am inclined to think, is of very modern 

 date, and not generally known. There are guns also 

 made use of which unscrew in two places, and so 

 contrived that the poacher, after firing one of these 

 (which are very short), can instantly take it to pieces, 

 and put it in his pocket ; and perhaps much greater 

 improvements may be practised by those deeply 

 skilled in the science of poaching, than those men- 

 tioned above. One of this fraternity informed the 

 writer, that the method of driving partridges into the 

 tunnel net was now but little used, as a much more 

 expeditious method of taking them had been disco- 

 vered. 



