NO MAN'S LAND. 193 



again, it was a matter of serious consideration how 

 to get rid of these vermin. " Turn pea-fowl into the 

 terrace portion of the grounds, and a half-fed rough- 

 bred pig with her litter into the dell for a season," 

 was the advice, given by one who knew what he was 

 talking about. This advice was speedily acted on. 

 Peacocks soon paraded all over the terraces and 

 gardens, and fierce porkers rooted about in the dell, 

 to such good purpose, that in an incredibly short 

 time, no viper, snake, or slow-worm — nor even a frog 

 — showed itself. One of the labourers gave me a 

 minute account of the proceedings. "Them pea- 

 cocks went fur 'em like lightnin' a'most wherever 

 one showed out. As fur them pigs, they jest goes 

 up, puts their fore-feet on 'em, tears 'em to pieces a 

 bit at a time, an' champs 'em up. An' if one on 'em 

 gets into a hole they roots him out. They likes the 

 flasher (flavour) o' them 'ere varmints. But, I tell ye, 

 none on us about here wud hev' them pigs ef they 

 wus gin us, arter they bin a-wolfin' they varmin." 



Our domestic fowls will kill anything of that sort 

 if the chance offers. I have often watched a fowl 

 joint a reptile up and eat it ; an old hen or rooster 

 makes no fuss about it, but will split the creature's 



N 



