378 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



they require to be freshest. The luncheon-hour 

 affords a welcome rest ; and a shooting-luncheon, 

 no matter howsoever simple the repast may be 

 the simpler the better can be a most enjoyable 

 meal. But the most abstemious person cannot 

 always settle down to steady shooting immediately 

 afterwards, and so there is none too much time 

 for the more serious part of the day's performance, 

 as the birds begin to grow restless, and anxious 

 to move on to the stubbles, about five o'clock, even 

 during the earlier days of September, and as the 

 season advances there is not much to be done in 

 the roots after three or four o'clock. 



I may be over-conservative in my ideas of 

 sport, perhaps antiquated ; but I have never been 

 able to reconcile myself to the use of the artificial 

 kite. I am well aware that there are times when 

 partridges are so numerous, and yet so wild, that 

 it is necessary to have recourse to the adoption 

 of some extraordinary measures in order to bring 

 them to the guns. I cannot but think that, where- 

 ever it can be arranged, the system of driving 

 is preferable to the use of the kite. Those open 

 lands on which it is most difficult to approach 

 the coveys when wild are admirably suited . for 

 driving. A kite is not easy to manage satis- 

 factorily the wind may drop, and down it comes ; 

 the string may become entangled ; all sorts of 

 mischances may occur, as, indeed, they generally 

 contrive to do but even when all goes smoothly 

 and well, half of the birds never rise at all, and 



