4 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



ledge ; and here is " Sally," a goose that will lay 

 more than threescore eggs in the spring, lives on grass, 

 likes to explore the cottage's interior, and puts all 

 the dogs to shame as a guard, loudly proclaiming the 

 arrival of strangers. In a coop on a lawn lives a white 

 rabbit, whose mission in life is to keep the grass short ; 

 this rabbit will not look at a carrot, but rejoices in 

 bread and milk, and above all in cold chicken. In 

 the yard is a retriever, who is always careful to offer 

 you her right paw in greeting, loves blackberries, and 

 is the special friend of a little terrier. Once there 

 was a pet lamb. On many a little rough grassy 

 grave the keeper's child places wreaths of wild flowers. 



The shooting of pigeons is the keeper's special feather- 



sport he is always on the spot to take advantage 



of favourable circumstances. It goes on 



Wood- m summer as i n winter, and remember- 

 Pigeons 



ing the tremendous amount of damage done 



to pea-fields, corn crops and roots by pigeons, there 

 is a justification for this shooting which cannot be 

 urged in favour of pheasant-shooting. The keeper 

 understands the sport. He knows the pigeons' habits 

 and feeding times, and that concealment is the secret 

 of success. Lying at ease on the ground, with his 

 back to a tree-trunk, he waits in all patience for the 

 pigeons to come to their favourite trees. Or, having 

 noted the part of the feeding-field where the birds 

 alight, he conceals himself in a hedge, or behind bushes 



