PIIEASAN'J'. 
2 
and the men Avcrc allowed to remain on guard. No less than three or four small Hawks, in all prohahility 
Sparrow-Hawks and Kestrels, were to ho seen sitting among the hranohes of the highest trees, waiting for 
an opportunity to sweep down and carry off some of the young. The birds in their present state were the 
property of the head keeper, who had procured the eggs, and reared and protected the downy mites during their 
first stages; he Avas entitled to no remuneration till a price was paid for them when fit to be turned out, and 
consequently it would have been a great loss to him to have them carried off by the Hawks. I learned on 
my arrival on Monday that, OAving to the constant watch kept on Sunday evening, the guns were not 
brought into use that day ; hut the following morning a couple had been killed, and during the I’emainder of 
the Aveek the AA’hole of the marauders Avere, I believe, cleared off. 
Many years ago my father rented the shootings of Catsfield, near Battle, in Sussex, and caring little 
for the sport of knocking doAvn hand-reared birds, his keeper seldom reared ahoA’e twenty or thirty broods 
from eggs rescued from outlying or exposed nests that would otherAvise have been robbed ; the coops Avere 
placed out on an open part of the Avild horth-grown stretch of land close by the spot on which Normanliurst 
now stands. While at home from school for the holidays my Avhole time was generally spent either shooting 
or fishing, according to the season, in company with one or other of the keepers, and I had many opportunities 
for becoming Avell acquainted Avith the preservation of game. The A^ermin that gave most trouble Avere 
cats, CroAvs, Magpies, and Jays, and for these traps Avere constantly set and kept in Avorking order: stoats 
and Aveasels also were destroyed AvheneA'er a chance was obtained, hut they Avere for the most part shot 
Avhen detected on the open ground hunting for prey. While the coops were out with young Pheasants 
and a fcAv Partridges that were also reared the keeper had a busy time, and it AA'as necessary for him 
to he constantly on guard. A couple of noisy terriers Avere also kept in barrels near the coops, to give Avarning 
of impending danger, and it A\ms seldom any of the young birds Avere lost ; a feAA’, lioAveAmr, had been missed one 
summer, and a closer AAmtch Avas necessary. On a fine bright Sunday morning I had succeeded in eA'ading 
the usual routine, and, provided Avith a strong shooting-double, had constructed a comfortable shelter among 
the hushes groAving near the coops on one side of the open ground, AA’hile the keeper Avas on the look out 
on all parts Avhere sufficient concealment could he obtained. After Avaiting a couple of hours I crept 
stealthily from my station into the coAmr close at hand to take a look over the furze-clad slopes on the 
open ground, to ascertain if any of the predatory species Avere in sight in that quarter. While crossing 
a ride * a vicAv of the coops was obtained and a savage groAvl and Ioav cries from the terriers caught 
my ear. On rapidly making my AAay doAvn toAvards the spot I Avas in time to see a large hlack-and- 
Avhite dog roll OA'cr to a shot, Avhile an instant later a second report Avas heard and another almost similar 
in colouring came in vicAv, evidently badly Avounded, but continuing its course toAvards the ride through 
Avhich I Avas noAv proceeding. DraAving at once into the shelter of the hushes 1 quietly aAvaited its 
approach, and a charge of No. 3 shot behind the shoulder settled the matter, the poor beast having been 
previously hard hit. On reaching the open ground I made my Avay to AAdiere the keeper AA’as standing, 
admiring a beautiful black-and-white setter lying dead. He stated that his attention had first been 
attracted by the excitement of the terriers, and then he had observed the dogs snapping up some young 
birds Avhich had not yet retreated to the shelter of the coops. Ilis first barrel, as I Avas well aAA^are, 
had done its Avork successfully ; but the second animal at Avhich he fired had been, he asserted, at a longer 
range and had carried off the charge, though evidently suffering from the effects of the shot. Having 
reported my share in the work, Ave quickly made our Avay to the spot Avhere the second had fallen, and 
assistance having been summoned, the offenders Avere at once put under ground. We Avere well aAA’are of 
the kennel to Avhich this brace of setters belonged; but how they had managed to escape from the care 
* I conolude that any one who glance.s at these pages must l)e aware of the meaning of a “ ride : ” hnt there is no harm in stating that it is a 
broad road or, rather, a gap cut in the cover to assi.st sliooting-])arties in sfop])ing hares or rabbits when bolting across tlie opening. 
