FOREST LAWS
—are the laws framed for the protection of VERT and VENISON within the precincts of a forest. It is the business, and the duty, of all subordinate officers, to apprehend offenders of whatever description, and present them to the FOREST COURTS, in order to their being punished according to the magnitude of the offence they may have committed.
FOREST COURTS
—are the courts occasionally held for executing the FOREST LAWS. The principal of which is, the Court of the Chief Justice in Eyre; this is a court of record, and is held only once in three years. The Court of Swainmote consists of the verderers, who, in some degree, are the JUDGES; as they receive presentments, and hear evidence, as well as enquire of offences to convict, but cannot pass judgment, that power being reserved to the Court of the Chief Justice (called "JUSTICE SEAT") alone. The Court of Swainmote can only be held three times a year. The Court of Attachment is likewise a meeting of the VERDERERS, and held once in six weeks, being called the "FORTY DAYS COURT."
During the time of the great camp upon Bagshot Heath, the Duke of Richmond having taken up his temporary residence at the Rose Inn, Wokingham, in Windsor Forest, where the courts were occasionally held, and seeing the regulations respecting the Court of Attachment fixed in the room, his Grace wished to obtain some information upon the subject; but finding none to be derived from the waiter, he desired "a person might be sent up who knew something of the matter." In a few minutes appeared the son of the landlady, who most sagaciously informed the Duke, that the "Forty Days Court was an ANNUAL MEETING, held every six weeks;" with which very clear and explanatory account, his Grace condescendingly expressed himself "perfectly satisfied."
FORM
—is the spot in which the HARE takes her seat at the dawn of day, to secrete herself, after making her various work in the night (or rather in the early part of the morning) to avoid discovery. When found sitting, she is said to be in her FORM. If shot as she sits, without being previously disturbed, she is then said to have been shot in her form. Hares vary their sitting according to the season, the sun, and the wind. Soon after harvest they are found in wheat, barley, and oat stubbles, as well as in rushy grassy moors; after these get bare, they retire to coverts, banks, hedges, and hedge-rows. After Christmas, and in the spring months, dry fallows, particularly those laying towards the sun with an ascent, are seldom without hares, if there are any in the neighbourhood.
FOUL-FEEDERS
—See Appetite.