6 PHEASANT. 



single person, is the setting silk or wire snares in the runs of the Pheasants, of which 

 we have spoken before. These are set quietly during the clay, and are, we believe 

 generally allowed to remain till the feeding- time of the birds, when, on running with 

 their heads stretched forwards, as is their custom, they are caught in the snickles or 

 nooses, and the poacher, watching his opportunity, quietly removes his snares, and his 

 victims. Sometimes, however, having set his snares, he immediately proceeds to drive 

 the Pheasants in the cover by the aid of a silent cur dog ; on such occasions the destruction 

 is very great. Having thus driven the birds into his snares, he at once collects the 

 plunder, and hides it to be removed at night-fall. 



Pheasants are also said to be sometimes caused to fall into the poacher's hands, by 

 being fumigated to stupefaction or suffocation while on their perches asleep. Mr. Waterton, 

 a high authority on these subjects, considers this an idle story, and says that though he 

 has repeatedly tried the plan, he never could succeed in bringing one bird down from 

 its roost. On the other hand, the late Mr. W. Thompson, of Belfast, a most careful and 

 excellent naturalist, says, in his "Natural History of Ireland," that he has no doubt of 

 the fact, and that, though he has never seen it done, full particulars of the method 

 pursued have been communicated to him; but he very properly does not mention them. 

 Sulphur, he says, is the agent used. We can readily conceive a more easy and efficient 

 agent than sulphur, but should be very sorry, in any way, to aid in the spread of a 

 knowledge that might be turned to so bad an account. 



Having now given a slight outline of the usual stratagems had recourse to by poachers 

 in the pursuit of the Pheasant, we are led naturally to consider the best methods by 

 which we may baffle them, and secure for our own use the birds we have been at so 

 much trouble and expense in preserving. It is clear, from what has been mentioned of 

 the determined way in which the poachers of Pheasants proceed, that something more is 

 necessary than opposing them merely with the brute force of a large staff of keepers 

 and watchers. We should endeavour to turn to our own advantage the natural habits 

 of the bird, but which, under ordinary circumstances, render it an easy prey to the 

 poacher. No one has written more to the purpose on this point, or with more accurate 

 knowledge of the habits of the bird, than Charles AVaterton, and we cannot, therefore, do 

 better than give, in his own words, his admirable hints on the best method of securing 

 our game from the arts of the poacher: — 



"In order to render useless all attempts of the nocturnal poacher to destroy the Pheasants, 

 it is absolutely necessary that a place of security should be formed. I know of no position 

 more appropriate than a piece of level ground, at the bottom of a hill, bordered by a 

 gentle stream. About three acres of this, sowed with whins, and surrounded by a holly 

 fence, to keep the cattle out, would be the very thing. In the centre of it, for the space 

 of one acre, there ought to be planted spruce fir trees, about fourteen feet asunder. Next 



