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.