268 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 

 background it is difficult to see the pheasants, and to 

 shoot them. The poacher has no liking for sporting 

 shots. 



Wet weather is often a benefit to the fox. Like all 

 accomplished night thieves he is more venturesome 



in attacking hand-reared birds when the 

 The Fox wind howls and rain beats heavily down. 

 Storm Th e storm drowns what little noise there 



may be from his stealthy feet ; and the scent 

 of the birds is stronger by reason of their steaming 

 bodies. In wet autumns foxes take their heaviest 

 toll of the young birds that have grown to a fair size 

 the dripping trees incline the birds to sleep on the 

 ground long after they are able to fly, and should be 

 flying nightly to roost. Grave risks are run by birds 

 that sit on their nests through wet June nights. 



Foxes are sometimes found among pheasants where 



wire, or string netting, has been set up at the flushing- 



places, to prevent the birds running instead 



Foxes at o f flying, and to cause them to rise and fly at 

 Pheasant /? , . , A TXT , ... J 



Shoots a sporting height and pace. When it is too 



late, and the beaters have come to the 

 flushing-place, the indignant " cock-ups " of the 

 pheasants are heard, and then they rise in a great rush, 

 too thick and fast for the convenience of sport. We 

 remember one case where a stampede of pheasants 



