SPORTSMEN, FARMERS, fec. 97 



raost ; and this is done without making any 

 noise. To prevent this, nothing is so easy 

 as to keep a man on purpose, when the 

 leaves are off the trees, to go, just after 

 dark, into the woods and brush them off 

 the trees with a long pole. But there are 

 other methods of catching pheasants ; such 

 as fastening a horse-bean, or an acorn, of 

 which they are very fond, on a fish-hook 

 tied to a bush, in the paths at the extremity 

 of the woods where the pheasants run out 

 to feed : but this method may very easily 

 be found out, provided your gamekeepers 

 are diligent, for the pheasant cannot be 

 caught but by daylight. Small iron rat- 

 traps, with any corn, pease., or beans laid 

 on the bridge of the traps, will for certain 

 catch them : but this may also be observed ; 

 for they cajonot be caught but in daylight, 

 though the hooks and traps may be set at 

 night. 



The best method of all, had I a manor, how inMiibiy 



to preserve a 



and my house lay close to my preserve cover at ni-ht. 

 cover, which I would adopt, is to plant a 

 six-pounder cannon on a platform at the 

 top of the house, thus loaded : Boy a 



