1891.
July 2
(No 7)
England.
Tintern. - wind as usual but I got it better than I
have at anytime before this. It still disappoints me
despite its several unique and attractive features. Perhaps
like the warble of our Bluebird it must be first heard
in youth to be appreciated in middle life. I can
easily understand how early summer sounds.
  While we were sitting on a bench near the edge 
of the cliff a man suddenly appeared following the
path into the opening and walking rapidly. He
was a young, vigorous fellow with a frank, open,
yet somewhat sad expression of face and a peculiarly
free, independent bearing. I knew him at once
for a woodsman and suspected from his velveteen
coat and trousers and long, laced hunting boots that
he was one of the Duke's Keepers, which turned out
to be the case. He told me that the neighboring
woods and fields contained Pheasants, Partridges,
Hares and Rabbits, all of which are strictly preserved.
A few years ago not more than 30 Rabbits were
killed each season. Last year the yield was over
4000 and this time will be still more. He 
attributes the increase of game to the destruction
of "vermin" among which he classed all Hawks
and Owls, Magpies, Jays, Carrion Crows, Stoats,
"Fidgets" (Pole-cats), and Badgers. All of these animals
are persecuted mercilessly yet, as he freely admitted,
the Magpies, Jays & Crows do not seem to be
materially diminished in numbers and Hawks
are far from scarce. The head keeper shot a Kite
only two weeks ago as it was scaling about the