BIOGRAPHY. 59 



the stems", but there is one obstacle which prevents them, 

 namely, that they cannot x^ut their feet to the ground. 



The holly is perpetually shedding its leaves, especially 

 in summer-time, in order to make way for the new leafage. 

 The old leaves fall, become dry, and curl up, with their 

 sharp spikes projecting in all directions. These points, 

 sharp as needles, prick the feet of the prowling animals, 

 and so prevent them from passing. 



Of this property Waterton took advantage. Like many 

 landed gentlemen he had a preserve of pheasants, and was 

 consequently harassed by poachers. 'Sow he hated prosecu- 

 tion, and always evaded it if possible. On one occasion, 

 for example, when eight men and a boy were captured on 

 Sunday morning, while trespassing in his rookery, he 

 released them on finding that they were tailors, saying that 

 he could not think of prosecuting eight-ninths and a half 

 of a man. 



So with the poachers in his preserves. He would not 

 expose them to be shot by keepers, nor would he pro- 

 secute them if he could help himself, but he could circum- 

 vent them, and did so effectually by means of the holly. 



The preserves were situated at some distance from the 

 house, so that the poachers could make a rapid inroad and 

 carry off their booty before they could be seized. So 

 Waterton laid a deep scheme. First he planted near the 

 house, and just opposite his window, a clump of yews, on 

 which trees pheasants are fond of perching. Next he sur- 

 rounded them with a thick holly hedge, leaving only one 

 little gap, which could be closed by a strong padlocked 

 gate. Then, leaving the trees to grow, he set about the 

 other preparations. 



He made a number of wooden pheasants, and did it in 

 the simplest manner imaginable. He got some small 

 scaffolding poles and cut them diagonally into pieces about 



