6 TEN YEARS OF GAME-KEEPING 



ventionality. Another reason for suggesting an 

 apprenticeship on a game-farm is that a man can 

 learn thereon in the quickest way the art and the 

 drudgery of pheasant-rearing ; and in these days 

 of gluttonous shooting a knowledge of the hand- 

 rearing of pheasants is indispensable to a game- 

 keeper's education. Look at the advertisements 

 of keepers seeking berths. In nine cases out of 

 ten you will see words to this effect : ' Thoroughly 

 experienced in the management of aviaries and the 

 rearing of pheasants.' If a man who applied for a 

 post were known to be well up in other branches 

 of a keeper's craft, but lacked knowledge of 

 pheasant-rearing, what would be his chance of 

 getting the ordinary berth ? Pheasant-rearing, after 

 all is said and done, means only an advanced know- 

 ledge of chicken-rearing. But it is in his other 

 duties that a keeper has the best opportunity to 

 show skill, judgment, tact, power of observation, 

 and ability to organize and to lead the likely fruits 

 of a good education. 



A head- keeper has far more responsibility than 

 most people imagine. Naturally, he expects to bear 

 the blame for his own mistakes ; but, as a matter 

 of fact, he is held responsible for the negligence, 

 stupidity, carelessness, or ignorance of his subordi- 

 nates, and even of his employer. The conduct of 

 his first shooting-party, as commander-in-chief, is 

 an ordeal by fire, and many a keeper could testify 



