SHOOTING 105 



woods and pheasants claim more attention than the 

 rabbits, although the latter constitute very often an 

 important item in the day's account. 



The modtcs operandi is altogether different. It is 

 true that in the earlier part of the season, when the 

 underwood is still pretty thick, and patches of fern 

 and bramble afford strongholds for game that can 

 scarcely be invaded without the help of dogs, spaniels 

 are extremely useful, for they can creep through places 

 where a beater would be ' hung up,' and push forward 

 many a rabbit which would otherwise be certain to 

 ' go back.' In such covert, also, the wily woodcock 

 will often lie so close without rising as to allow a 

 beater to walk past him, while his scent will betray 

 him at once to the questing spaniel, who will very 

 soon have him on the wing. On this account a team 

 of close-hunting spaniels will be found invaluable early 

 in the season, especially if broken, as they should be, 

 to hunt always within range of the guns, and to drop 

 to hand when bidden. 



Later on, when the woods get more open, and 

 the beaters can move more freely, the spaniels may 

 be dispensed with, and in their place two or three 

 steady retrievers may be employed, which should 

 never leave the heels of their employers until bidden 

 to ' hie lost.' They should then be allowed to work 



