GROUSE SHOOTING (PART III], ' DRIVING ' 305 



' Yes, sir, they did truly ; but they have clean gone 

 for the clay, as the high wind took them just 300 

 yards too far, and they have all crossed over to the 

 squire's ground, and it's good shooting the squire 

 will have this afternoon.' * 



Having ascertained the sport a driving moor is 

 likely to afford, you should make careful inquiries 

 concerning its shape. 



If a long, narrow moor, find out if its length runs 

 in the same direction as our prevailing wind, or 

 between south and west, from the south-west for 

 preference (S.W. to X.E. that is to say). 



A long, narrow moor is, however, always un- 

 favourable for driving, as, if the wind shifts during 

 the day's sport, all your birds may unexpectedly rlv 

 off to a neighbour ! If the south-west winds blow 

 right across a narrow moor, you will also find it an 

 nsive one, by reason of the extra number of men 

 that will be necessary to keep the grouse on your 

 ground when driving them ; and you will have many 

 disappointments through the birds flying downwind 



* Always retain the services of any habitut of a driving moor 



who has assisted in its management on shooting days. There is 



many a tall haggard-looking old fellow on a Yorkshire moor, half 



keeper, half shepherd, with a dash of the small farmer, who will 



you in a week more about how to drive your grouse (perhaps 



from having acted for years as a flanker only) than your patent. 



imported, smart-clad, up-to-every-dodge-in-his-own-estimation, 



-ant-rearing velveteens will learn in ten years. 



II X 



