STOCK 423 



There will always be those to whom the working of dogs, Dogging. 

 the study of nature, the finer arts of venery, and the quiet 

 beauties of the moor will provide two-thirds of a day's enjoy- 

 ment. It is impossible to deny the satisfaction gained from a 

 pair of wide-ranging dogs perfectly trained under a keeper 

 who is thoroughly conversant with his moor, and able to take 

 advantage of every chance of wind or change of circumstance 

 that the day may bring forth. Although the shooting may not 

 be difficult, the surroundings, the assistance which each sports- 

 man is able to give in manoeuvring the Grouse, the chance 

 shots which fall only to the alert, the feeling of satisfaction 

 afforded by each old cock that has been outwitted, the short 

 rests, the cool springs, and the cunning cuts from one point 

 to another, all help to make the day's sport difficult to equal, 

 and impossible to beat. 



To those who are in the first flight of shots, who love organisa- Driving, 

 tion for its own sake, and have the latter-day mania for big 

 bags and pleasures condensed into the shortest possible space 

 of time, driving, on the other hand, will always claim the first 

 place. 



It will be readily admitted that there are few more exhilarat- 

 ing moments than the beginning of the down-wind drive, the 

 first half-dozen birds neatly killed, the nearest of them lying 

 stone dead 50 yards behind the butts, the conscious feeling 

 of being able to deal with the situation, and the excitement of 

 watching the big pack neatly turned by the flankers and sailing 

 in serried mass towards the very centre of the line. 



While opinions differ as to the pleasure to be derived from 

 either method of shooting, the benefits conferred by each are 

 not hard to detail. 



The great advantage of shooting over dogs is that the 

 worst shot should be able to kill without wounding. Dogging 

 where it is possible is an excellent method of regulating the 

 stock in a bad year. It gives an opportunity to kill all the old 

 birds and spare the young. It is possible also to " dog " 

 carefully the outskirts of a Grouse moor without doing any 



