i6o THE GAMEKEEPER AT HOME. 



is instantaneous. It is very easy to sprain the thumb 

 while learning the trick. 



A poacher will sometimes place his hat gently on 

 the ground, when first catching sight of a sitting hare, and 

 then stealthily approach on the opposite side. The hare 

 watches the hat, while the real enemy comes up unawares, 

 or, if both are seen, he is in doubt which way to dash. 

 On a dull, cold day hares will sit till the sportsman's dogs 

 are nearly on them, almost till he has to kick them out. 

 At other times in the same locality they are, on the con- 

 trary, too wild. Occasionally a labourer, perhaps a 'fogger,' 

 crossing the meadows with slow steps, finds a rabbit sitting 

 in like manner among the grass or in a dry furrow. 

 Instantly he throws himself all a-sprawl upon the ground, 

 with the hope of pinning the animal to the earth. The 

 manoeuvre, however, frequently fails, and the rabbit slips 

 away out of his very hands. 



The poacher is never at rest ; there is no season when 

 his marauding expeditions cease for awhile : he acknow- 

 ledges no ' close time ' whatever. Almost every month 

 has its appropriate game for him, and he can always turn 

 his hand to something. In the very heat of the summer 

 there are the young rabbits, for which there is always a 

 sale in the towns, and the leverets, which are easily picked 

 up by a lurcher dog. 



I have known a couple of men take a pony and trap 

 for this special purpose, and make a pleasant excursion 



