COUNTRY LIFE
Norringc has more strikingly illustrated the complete and surpriiing disappearance of the coney from many districts- than the reaping of our most excellent harvest. The new harvesting differs much from the old ; but there is one incidental scene that remains unchanged. As the last narrow rectangle is about to be cut, men with guns or lurchers, and boys with sticks and odd camp followers mysteriously appear, intent to destroy whatever beasts may be at 'last dishoused. In spite of the con- siderable risk of approaching these eager and earnest marksmen, I have watched several of these final swathes fall, and have not seen one single rabbit emerge. Hares have been more numerous, for they have—sur- prisingly—been very little poached in spite of their value. The reapers flushed a great many partridges, which have flourished beyond any other game ; but rats as well as rabbits are still comparatively few. The admirable regulation that a cornstack must be encircled with mesh wire at the time of threshing has done much good.
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