COVERT-SHOOTING 273 



honest opinion at the end of the day is 

 passing rare ; the suggestion as to how 

 the shoot might have been managed must 

 generally be so tactfully conveyed if no 

 offence is to be given, that most guests 

 deem it wiser to leave it alone, thanking 

 their host for his shooting in vague 

 generalities, and reserving their stringent 

 criticism of his methods for an outside 

 audience. 



As to the right ordering of a covert- 

 shoot, the writer had in memory certain 

 pleasant days of high pheasants skilfully 

 shown, and intricate manoeuvres carried 

 through with the precision of a military 

 evolution at Bargany in South Ayrshire. 

 To his inquiries as to ways and means, 

 Mr. North Dalrymple Hamilton kindly 

 wrote at length, and the following notes 

 may serve to preserve the gist of these 

 letters, which, based on practical experi- 

 ence, have a real value to all who rear 

 pheasants and are not intimately ac- 

 quainted with the science of bringing 

 them over the guns to the best advantage. 



18 



