xv. PARTRIDGE SHOOTING (PART II I\ ' DRIVING' 251 



Should the partridges be coming upwind, you will 

 have to stand within a dozen yards of the hedge per- 

 haps, for if the birds see you, when they are flying 

 slowly and against the wind, they can easily change 

 their course to turn back or swerve out of range. 



But if the shooters are posted behind a high and 

 thick hedge, they may always stand well back, so as 

 to have chances at the birds as they top the hedge, 

 for they will not then perceive the guns till they are 

 within shot. 



If the shooters have only a low hedge in front of 

 them, they should stand close up to it ; as, if they 

 stood back in this case, the birds would see them 

 from a long distance, and perhaps decline to come 

 forward. 



Artificial Shelters. In a country that is very level, 

 and in which the hedges are low, the latter will often 

 fail to afford sufficient concealment to the shooters. 

 The only alternative is to place hurdles interwoven 

 with thorns (they are the best colour) for the guns to 

 stand behind ; and these shelters should be placed in 

 position in good time for the birds to become accus- 

 tomed to their presence. 



In case hurdles are not available, it is a good plan 



-k a farmer, when slashing a low fence, to leave, 

 at intervals of some 60 yards, portions untrimmed, 



- to form natural hiding places for the guns when 

 partridges are being driven. 



