Speculation, Fact and Fiction

You know what I'm talking about? A fence or a tree with dead crows, weasels and such nailed to it, supposedly to deter other so-called vermin from preying on m'lords pheasants.

I could really do with a good literary reference to one of these, ideally from some well-known author like Hardy or Dickens or such. Less immediately well-known writers perfectly acceptable, mind you.

Explanations in due course.