98 THE RABBIT 



the sportsmen, stop the horses, and constituting 

 themselves beaters for the occasion, put out rabbit 

 after rabbit towards the expectant gunners. Thus 

 pressed they will make in fine style for the nearest 

 hedgerow until turned head over heels by a well- 

 directed charge of No. 6 shot. In this way a score 

 of rabbits may often be killed in half an hour 

 by a single gun, while if two guns are posted on 

 opposite sides, the fun will be all the merrier while 

 it lasts. The farmer will be well pleased, and the 

 harvesters too, if they receive, as they should do, a 

 rabbit or two apiece for their pains. 



Pending the advent of covert-shooting, there are 

 few pleasanter ways of spending an afternoon than 

 by shooting rabbits on a furze-clad common, either 

 with dogs or beaters, or both. The surroundings are 

 particularly exhilarating. The weather is usually 

 splendid, everyone is in a good humour, the common 

 is all aglow with the golden furze on which here and 

 there the stonechat sits and clacks his disapproval 

 at the invasion of his haunts. The merry spaniels 

 eager to begin can scarce control their excitement, 

 and the mere sight of a rabbit elicits from them a 

 veritable yell of delight, ^^^ith difficulty they are 

 restrained until the guns are properly posted, each 

 commanding a ride cut through the thick furze, with 



