19 SEPTEMBER 1952, Page 13

Lamping Had I ever been lamping, I was asked. I

had not. A long time ago I once tried to poach a few pheasants by moonlight. My efforts were not successful. Lamping was new to me. My friend, who had been out getting rabbits and hares by means of the lamp, enlightened me. One of the pair—it is a game for two—wears a powerful battery strapped on his back, and carries a lamp which is wired to the battery. The other poacher directs the dogs, one of which is a whippet or a greyhound and the other a terrier. When the lamp is flashed on, rabbits in the vicinity are temporarily dazzled, and remain motionless long enough for the dogs to get a good start. The grey- hound turns the quarry and the terrier kills it. Lamping is done at great speed, the poachers travelling from field to field as fast as they can. I imagine they have to, for the lamp that dazzles the rabbits must warn the keeper. On the night my friend went as a spectator, the greyhound ran itself to a standstill, and had to be carried home in a sack. The keeper did not manage to come up with the law- breakers. Their catch was heavier than the unfortunate hound.