SNARING HARES. 151 



nets, into which both partridges and pheasants were driven. 

 If skilfully alarmed that is, not too much hurried these 

 birds will run a long way before rising, and, if their tracks 

 are known, may be netted in considerable numbers. But 

 of recent years, since pheasants especially have become so 

 costly a luxury to keep, the preserves and roosting-places 

 have been more effectually watched, and this plan has be- 

 come more difficult to put in practice. In fact, the local 

 man thinks twice before he puts his foot inside a preserve, 

 and, if possible, prefers to pick up outside. If a preserve 

 is broken into the birds are at once missed, and there is a 

 hue and cry ; but the loss of outsiders is not immediately 

 noticed. 



The wire is, perhaps, the regular poacher's best imple- 

 ment, and ground game his most profitable source of 

 income. Hares exist in numbers upon the downs, especi- 

 ally near the localities where the great coursing meetings 

 are held, where a dozen may be kicked out of the grass in 

 five minutes. In these districts of course the downs are 

 watched ; but hares cannot be kept within bounds, and 

 wander miles and miles at night, limping daintily with 

 their odd gait (when undisturbed) along the lanes leading 

 into the ploughed fields on the lower slopes and plains. 

 The hills wide and almost pathless, and practically des- 

 titute of fences wher.e the foot leaves no trail on the 

 short grass and elastic turf, are peculiarly favourable to 

 illicit sport. 



