284 TEN YEARS OF GAME-KEEPING 
of fourteen birds dropped by two guns one hot 
September afternoon. There was not an atom of 
scent, but, trying again at sundown, my old dog got 
them all. 
There is a very popular fallacy that a keeper may 
help himself to what game he likes. By right of 
custom he may have rabbits and pigeons for his 
own use only, and not to sell for his own profit 
(unless by agreement). As to game in the ordinary 
sense, I should say he has no more right to it than 
a gardener to grapes, or a carter to oats. I have 
been asked for game (presumably free of middle- 
man’s profit) by people who gave me to understand 
that they would ‘satisfy’ me. And a lady wrote 
to me: ‘Mrs. So-and-so wishes,’ etc. I replied: 
‘Mr. Jones presents his compliments to Mrs. So- 
and-so, and wishes to inform her that he is a game- 
keeper, and not a game-dealer.’ I do not suppose 
one member of the public in ten thousand knows 
that neither a gamekeeper nor his employer may 
sell game to anyone but a licensed dealer. Con- 
sidering the ease with which keepers can help 
themselves to game, and the smallness of the risk 
of detection, their honesty, collectively, is. much to 
their credit. I would suggest to employers that 
they should think of the keeper when game is being 
given away. A present of an occasional (not too 
occasional) brace of birds or a hare is the best way 
of telling the keeper that his integrity is appreciated. 
