256 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS LETTER 



to the guns any birds that are inclined to break out 

 of the drive at its sides. 



The flankers should not wait to wave their flags 

 till the partridges are well on the wing, as fifty men 

 with flags might not then alter their course if this is 

 downwind. What the flankers should do is to keep 

 their eyes open, and if the game rises in a direction 

 that is not fair for the guns, then instantly to wave 

 their flags ; for that is the moment to influence the 

 subsequent flight of the birds.* 



A FEW NOTES ON PRESERVING PARTRIDGES 



As you cannot enjoy good partridge shooting with- 

 out plenty of birds, you will have to maintain an 

 ample stock. This can be done in several ways ; and 

 yet I think assisting partridges to increase in number 

 is seldom systematically attempted, the owner of an 

 estate chiefly devoting his energies to exterminating 

 them. 



The first thing is to give the birds suitable ground 



* I have only alluded to a single set of drivers, as a double set 

 means at least a score of men in the field and much additional ex- 

 pense. When birds are numerous and the fields very large, a double 

 set of drivers saves time, as, whilst the one set take a drive towards 

 the guns, the other set are falling into position for the next drive. 

 Besides this, as the birds are given little time to rest between the 

 drives, they are less liable to collect together, and more likely to 

 offer single shots to the guns. It is the single shots that add up 

 the bag when partridge driving, or a desultory 'pop,' ' pop,' 'pop,' 

 at intervals, and not the grand broadside caused by several coveys 

 passing over the line of guns at one time. 



