KEEPERS' EXCUSES 251 



may have been brought about by a wet and cold 

 breeding-season. 



I have often been considerably amused at the 

 numberless reasons which keepers bring forward as 

 an excuse for birds being: scarce when there should 

 have been a really fine show, a good stock having 

 been left to breed from. Every and any cause but 

 the right one is adduced, though they must many a 

 time have come across the tracks made by stray feet, 

 which cannot be wiped off as easily as a handful of 

 feathers, which latter are often the only tracks which 

 remain to tell the tale after a drag-net has been at 

 work, save where the ground is wet and mossy, and 

 then the footprints of both men and dogs are plainly 

 visible. Such marks are asserted to be those made by 

 ihe shepherd on his way to some other hill. Whereas, 

 I have been informed that the keepers have actually 

 met the man and his dog ; and on asking his busi- 

 ness, received ready reply that it was to make a short 

 cut to recover lost sheep, etc., while all the tim.e 

 they were being hoodwinked by our poaching ac- 

 quaintance, who was working his passage towards his 

 rendezvous. 



In wild, out-of-the-way moors, where there is every 

 facility for the keepers being watched till out of sight, 

 these poaching scoundrels wait until the coast is clear, 

 and will then net the ground behind the keeper. Such 

 moors should be well pegged with rough sticks or 

 bushed with briars, or some such protection afforded. 

 It is, also, quite worth while to set such ground with 

 wire trip-traps, which answer admirably, and are not 

 visible in the heather. 



The shepherds should join in thus helping the 



