VERMIN CATCHING, ETC. 119 



couple o' lords on the right, and a couple 

 o' lords on the left.' (Turning to humble com- 

 moner in knickerbocker and Zouave gaiters), 

 ' You try the high stuff with the beaters and 

 take your chance of a hare back.' ' 



This was no caricature ; I have seen the same 

 style of thing scores and scores of times. In 

 the "Sporting Gazette" of Dec. 21sfc, 1867, I 

 came across the following, which is quite as 

 good a gem in its way, and only wanted our 

 poor friend's pencil to have illustrated it and 

 made it equally famous : 



" While on the subject of shooting I may 

 remark that last year ' Punch ' took up very 

 successfully the question of the payment of 

 gamekeepers by gentlemen who come to shoot 

 with their masters, and cleverly illustrated their 

 airs and graces. The system itself has been 

 frequently debated, for the honorarium was felt 

 to be absurdly high, and a great tax upon those 

 who, as Sheridan says, are not blessed with 

 affluence. Since the agitation on the subject 

 has commenced the evil has partially abated, 

 but the following anecdote, for the truth of which 



