THE GAMEKEEPER AND HIS GOLGOTHA. 87 



delicate mechanism of this, but depreciates the 

 spirit of the age which produced it. Such 

 cunningly devised engines will make old- 

 fashioned sport, or what he calls " wild-shoot- 

 ing," extinct. 



Against the walls are cases of stuffed birds, 

 with a red Squirrel or a white Stoat to re- 

 lieve the feathers. In one case a knot-hole 

 is imitated, from which peer three young 

 Weasels ; and an old one is descending the 

 bole with a dead bird in its mouth. All these 

 are portrayed to the life by the keeper's own 

 hand. Looking at the contents of the cases, 

 he deplores his want of ornithological know- 

 ledge in earlier years. Among the stuffed 

 specimens are a Greenland Falcon, a pair of 

 Hobbies, several rare Owls, a Kite or Glead, 

 a Rose-coloured Pastor, and others equally rare. 



The Gamekeeper's life is essentially an out- 

 door one. He is far from populous towns, and 

 needs but little assistance. Poachers rarely or 

 never come to his preserves in gangs, and a 

 couple of village " mouchers " he can manage 

 easily. His powerful frame has once been the 

 seat of great strength, though now it needs but 

 a glance to show that his eye is less keen, and 



