THE SEASON'S END 39 



rabbits scurry and twist through masses of fern and 

 brambles. But where the theory of eye magnifica- 

 tion would seem most probably true is where tits 

 and goldcrests are searching for food on the under- 

 side of fir boughs, and finding food which no man's 

 eye could see unaided. 



While February 1 brings security to pheasants and 

 partridges, hares where any survive in spite of the 



Ground Game Act are now also nearly safe 

 The from persecution, thanks, however, to the 



End S courtesy of sportsmen, and not to the law. 



Like rabbits, hares may be killed all the year 

 round, but, unlike rabbits, they may not be sold or 

 exposed for sale between the first day of March and 

 the last day of July. 



The end of the season has a strong effect on the 

 gamekeeper. February 2 marks his annual truce 

 with his birds, save woodcock, snipe and wild-fowl. 

 Thereafter he loses the vindictive look of the shoot- 

 ing season he becomes a man of peace. For long 

 months he has been scheming death and destruction 

 he has devoted himself wholly to the science of 

 killing game. Happy, if anxious, his face has been 

 as he has bustled his birds to guns belching forth 

 some three hundred pellets of lead at each discharge. 

 At the end of the day he has rejoiced over the long 

 rows of the dead, in feather and fur, while his hand 



