86 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



poachers, however, leave their traps after dark, 

 and only the casual is caught in this way. At 

 the other end of the orchard, divisional boxes 

 are ranged round an old barn-like building 

 where pheasants' eggs are hatched. A shaggy 

 terrier, with fresh mould upon its nose, peeps 

 from beneath the shed doorway. Drowsy blue- 

 bottles buzz about the vermin larder, and under 

 the apple trees are straw-thatched hives. Con- 

 tented pigeons coo and bask on the hot slates of 

 the barn-roof, and bird sounds are everywhere. 

 These blocks, upon which sit their falcons, act 

 as a reminder of an old English sport fast 

 passing away. They are Merlins and Pere- 

 grines, kept by the keeper for a friend, who is 

 fond of hawking. The merlins can pull down 

 partridges, while the peregrines are flown at 

 larger game. No sport so exhilarating as 

 falconry ; none so fascinating ! 



The interior of the Keeper's Cottage is as 

 characteristic as its surroundings. Here are 

 guns of every description — from the old- 

 fashioned fowling-piece and matchlock to the 

 ponderous duck-gun. Above the chimney- 

 place hangs a modern breech-loader with 

 Damascus barrels. The Keeper admires the 



