PHEASANTS FROM SHELL TO SHOT 343 



securing the pheasants round and about the feeding grounds ; 

 they remain in the wood till darkness again sets in, when 

 they leave with their ill-gotten gains. 



Last, but not least, never resort to lawyers until a really 

 good case has been obtained and the evidence is strong, 

 otherwise you will do no good, and have to pay pretty 

 dearly for the amusement (?). 



THE WATCH HOUSE. 



HATCHING AND REARING. 



In springtime we keepers complain as much as farmer 

 Turniptops at the persistent cussedness of our eccentric 

 English climate it is the period when cares weigh heavy on 

 our souls ; outlying nests give constant anxiety ; our hands 

 are full to overflowing with home hatchings, and last, but not 

 least, the partridges are enough to consign us to an early grave. 



But faint heart never reared fat pheasant, and persever- 

 ance with care will work wonders. Let us take a cursory 

 glance at the work. Why does our keeper so persistently 

 search the boundary beat and the rough marshes next the 



