POACHERS 15 



their eyes look out upon different worlds ; the two 

 men are as different in type, in ideas, and in methods 



as the North is different to the South, the 

 In North open, rolling moor to the jungle-like 

 South covert. There are certain matters on which 



they agree as in their mutual hatred 

 of foxes ; the moor-keeper, when the season is 

 out, has no hesitation in killing all foxes and vermin 

 within his power. He has an advantage over his 

 brother in some things ; as in nesting-sites. The 

 heather affords an unlimited number of well-concealed 

 places for grouse nests, whereas in Hampshire or 

 Sussex a nesting hedgerow after the heart of pheasant 

 or partridge is likely to be overcrowded, and to 

 attract every sort of egg-thief. Again, he has an 

 advantage in his natural and abundant food-supplies ; 

 though much of his success in raising a stock of 

 healthy birds will depend on his judgment in burn- 

 ing old heather, and insuring a plentiful growth 

 of young shoots. When heather is late in starting to 

 grow, and birds are forced to feed on old, dry shoots, 

 digestive troubles may prove fatal to many. 



Poachers on the moor differ in many habits and 

 tricks from South-country poachers. They know 



how to trap grouse with gins, setting up little 

 Poachers- ., . * . , . . Jf , ; , 



piles of gravel, which the birds eagerly seek 



for digestive reasons, and besetting the gravel with 

 traps. They know how to trap grouse in winter 



