A gamecock
was first armed with the sharp spur made from the best razors, and then
put down near where a pheasant-cock had been observed to crow. The
pheasant cock is so thoroughly game that he will not allow any rival
crowing in his locality, and the two quickly met in battle. Like a keen
poniard the game-cock's spur either slew the pheasant outright or got
fixed in the pheasant's feathers, when he was captured.
A pheasant, too, as he ran deeper into the wood upon an alarm,
occasionally found his neck in a noose suspended across his path. For
rabbiting, the lurcher was and is the dog of all others. He is as
cunning and wily in approaching his game as if he had a cross of feline
nature in his character. Other dogs trust to speed; but the lurcher
steals on his prey without a sound. He enters into the purpose of his
master, and if any one appears in sight remains quietly in the hedge
with the rabbit or leveret in his mouth till a sign bids him approach.
If half the stories told of the docility and intelligence of the lurcher
are true, the poacher needs no other help than one of these dogs for
ground game. But the dogs called lurchers nowadays are mostly of
degenerate and impure breed; still, even these are capable of a good
deal.
There is a way of fishing with rod and line, but without a bait. The rod
should be in one piece, or else a stout one--the line also very strong
and short, the hook of large size.
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