M. PHEASANT SHOOTING (PART 77) 179 



EXAMPLE No. 4. (FiG. 81, OPPOSITE PAGE) 



HOW TO MAKE PHEASANTS FLY WELL IN A LEVEL COUNTRY 



It is too often the case that coverts are driven for 

 the hag, and not for an exhibition of skill 011 the part 

 of the shooters. I will take as an instance the 

 example given on opposite page. 



Here are two large woods, (A) and (B), a hundred 

 yards or so apart, containing, let us suppose, a con- 

 siderable head of pheasants and ground game. Nine 

 out of ten keepers would post the guns in linje between 

 the woods at (D), and methodically drive (A) to (B), or 

 the reverse. 



The consequence is that, supposing (A) is driven 

 first (and has not been shot through before in the 

 current season), the birds will crowd to its end, and 

 fly low over the guns into (B) ; and though the slaughter 

 may be pleasing to the keeper in charge, it is not so 

 to a sportsman. The guns then probably right- 

 about-face, and (B) is driven back to (A) ; and, as the 

 birds that came from (A) will have associated with the 

 birds in (B), as yet unalarmed, all will fly low together 

 over the guns. The ground game will in great 

 measure escape, as rabbits do not readily break covert 

 to pass a line of guns. 



Now, even in a level country, fairly high birds 

 can be shown in these two woods if they are driven as 

 they should be. 



N- -2 



