AUTODA-Ffi OF ANIMALS. 143 



arms of the crowd that assembles, and, of course, picks up 

 what it can seize. The flames blacken and scorch the firs 

 and trees on the edge of the wood, and the marks of their 

 passage are not obliterated for years. 



Apart from the torture of animals, the damage to 

 sport — both hunting and shooting — is immense, and takes 

 long to remedy ; for although furze and fern soon shoot 

 again, yet animal life is not so quickly repaired. Some- 

 times a few sheep wandering from the downs are roasted 

 alive in this manner ; and one or more dogs from the 

 crowd watching are sure to run into the flames, which 

 seem to exercise a fascination over some canine minds. 

 The keeper's wrath bubbles up years afterwards as he re- 

 calls the scene, and it would not be well for the incendiary 

 if he fell into his hands. But the mischief can be so easily 

 done that it is rarely these rascals are captured. 



