58 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



under very strict precautions, about a house or steading 

 for the destruction of rats, mice, and such small vermin. 

 In connection with this exception, the gamekeeper must 

 see that means are taken to prevent any dog from get- 

 ting at such poison. 



Shooting on Simday or at night. In England and 

 Ireland it is illegal to kill game on Sunday or Christmas 

 Day. There is no such direct prohibition in Scotland, 

 but the Act 1661, cap. 18, which has been held to be 

 still in force, prohibits salmon-fishing and all other pro- 

 fanation of the Sabbath day. It is doubtful whether 

 this Actis nowadays in force, and a conviction for shoot- 

 ing on Sunday could not probably be obtained if the 

 shooting did not go on so near to houses or churches 

 as to cause serious annoyance. 



The use of firearms by night to kill ground game is 

 forbidden in all three countries, but the Acts forbidding 

 this in regard to other game do not extend to Ireland. 

 In England no one may use firearms within fifty feet 

 of the centre of a public roadway. In Scotland no one 

 may use firearms on or in any exposed situation near 

 a public roadway so as to cause annoyance to any 

 passenger thereon. 



The Wild Birds Protection Acts. One of the 

 ordinary duties of the keeper is the destruction of 

 vermin which might destroy the game which it is his 

 duty to preserve. 



By a series of Acts (extending to the whole United 

 Kingdom) for the preservation of wild birds, it is pro- 



