200 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS LETTER 



open ; whilst if the same birds are quietly flushed, 

 they will fly forward, and, once on the wing at a good 

 pace, cannot well avoid passing within shot, or check 

 their flight to escape danger. 



I always wish I was behind the boy who yells 

 ' Eabbit forward ! ' or ' Eabbit back ! ' (or, as I once 

 heard, ' Eabbit running backwards, sir ! ') with a 

 pliant stick. 



Beaters require careful supervision, or they are 

 sure to overlook thick bushes or brambles the very 

 spots, of course, in which the game is most likely to 

 be concealed. Beaters are also fond of thrashing out 

 a bush from its most negotiable or least prickly 

 side, instead of, as they should always do, trampling 

 it out, so as to send the bird or rabbit it contains 

 forward. 



Teach the men who act the part of ' stops ' or 

 ' beaters ' their duties on small days with as much 

 care as if your best shooting was taking place. They 

 will then know how to act on all occasions, whether 

 they are employed in driving a wood containing 

 several hundred birds or one that holds but a score. 



If you can afford to do so, give your beaters long 

 white canvas overalls, without buttons or open joints 

 merely a hole to put the head through, and sleeves 

 for the arms, like a smock frock. These will keep 

 the men dry, and save their clothes to them a matter 

 of importance ; they will not fight shy of the brambles, 

 and their conspicuous dress will not only assist to 



