146 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



locks, " The Punishment for Tampering with these 

 Works is TRANSPORTATION." " Trespassers will be 

 Punished by Transportation " would be a suitable 

 legend for a board in a strictly preserved wood, 

 hinting that if you do not go quietly on request the 

 keeper will carry you. Reading the new caution to 

 drivers outside the Hampshire village, we were tempted 

 to simplify it thus : " Beware of hound puppies." 

 It is pleasant to see young hounds basking in the sun 

 in the farmyard ; but when they are at walk in the 

 charge of the village butcher they may be more than 

 a general nuisance ; they may terrorise the place. 

 People who walk hounds do not always undertake 

 the honour because they like it, but because they 

 cannot well refuse. The hounds are turned out into 

 the streets to prowl at large they slaughter poultry, 

 spread havoc in many a garden plot, knock down 

 children, and roam in through open cottage doors, 

 to steal the labourer's dinner from off his very table. 

 A pack of hounds under the control of a firm hunts- 

 man and his whips is one thing but hounds at walk, 

 allowed to wander at their will, are a peril to the 

 community. " Beware of hound puppies " when 

 they come up treacherously behind you. 



Retriever pups born about the end of January are 

 old enough, by August or September, to begin their 

 careers of usefulness. If given light work, during 

 the second half of their first year they may be ready 



