140 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



be left unasked. I n a recent conversation with a keeper 

 to one of those who voted for the abolition of the pole- 

 trap, I remarked that he would have to set an example 

 and refrain from trapping hawks. With a peculiar 

 twinkle in his eye, he significantly replied, " Imphm." 



After a fall of snow the young keeper should be out 

 at daylight to note his observations of footprints. When 

 the ground is covered as with a sheet of soft white paper, 

 impressions of all birds and beasts are easily made upon 

 its surface, and can then be read as in a book. A study 

 of the tracks of the various kinds of vermin is most 

 interesting, and every keeper should be able to dis- 

 criminate at once what made the impression. Many 

 traits in the habits of birds and animals, unobserved at 

 other times, can then be accurately noted. A study 

 should also be made of the disturbed cries of every 

 denizen of the wood, as these constitute a valuable guide 

 in detecting the enemies of game. The intelligent keeper 

 knows at once if a stray cat, dog, or fox is in the wood. 

 The warning cackle of a cock pheasant, the screeching 

 of a jay, the excited piping of blackbirds and other birds, 

 or the disturbed movements of any living thing, quickly 

 notify to his practised ear that an enemy is abroad. 



I am a game-preserver and a lover of birds. As man 

 has dominion over the fowls of the air and beasts of the 

 field, the destroyers of the birds we value most must 

 be kept in check. As I have tried to show, a pair of 

 peregrines, sparrow-hawks, or merlins must necessarily 

 kill a thousand birds annually, and no one can affirm 



