Practical Game -Preserving. 220 



a widely-spread practice, and one which repeated conviction 

 and confiscation of the gear do very little to limit. As a 

 rule, poaching with the sweep-net is commenced a few 

 days before the Twelfth, so as to get the birds to market 

 in time for that date, and is worked subsequently whenever 

 the chance offers, but not to any extent after the coveys are 

 broken up and driving is alone resorted to for the shooting. 

 The general mode of operations is similar to that when the 

 sweep-net is used for partridges, but differs in some 

 essentials. The preliminary proceeding, of course, in- 

 volves the more or less precise locating of the roosting-place 

 of the grouse covey round about the time of sundown. 

 Later on, at the time held most propitious for the work, 

 the exact whereabouts of the covey is ascertained either by 

 means of a trained dog or through careful observation, and 

 the men hauling the net silently approach the birds from 

 the leeward side until they are in position to throw the net 

 over the whole covey. It is of much smaller size than that 

 usually employed for partridges, being but about i5ft. by 

 8ft. Directly the net is thrown the men fall upon the 

 grouse, killing them through the net by seizing the birds 

 and pressing with both thumbs upon their breast-bone. 

 This mode of settling the capture is expeditious, and 

 prevents the birds from causing an alarm ; the mode of 

 killing will not be detected, unless by an expert, as being 

 otherwise than that of shooting, whilst their appearance on 

 the table is identical with that of a heavily shot bird, but 

 minus the pellets. This form of grouse-netting is very 

 difficult to prevent, being practically night work and very 

 silent. Dishonest watchers can and do lend very great aid 

 in its accomplishment by locating the roosting-places of 

 the birds, by land-marking them in previously agreed 

 manner, and by signalling from their coigns of vantage 

 where the birds are located for the night. Only close and 



