xix. GROUSE SHOOTING (PART IV\ ' DRIVING ' 313 



(as an opening between hills, for example), the 

 straighter will they fly to the shooters posted in 

 their line of flight. 



The shelters, whatever their number, should in- 

 variably be set up in true line ; it is the only way to 

 insure safety. Flank shelters placed slightly forward 

 of the others, with the idea of turning the birds in- 

 wards, is a hazardous method, and one, I am glad to 

 say, almost discontinued. 



Sixty-five yards apart is the best distance for the 

 shelters to be erected, as far as killing the grouse 

 is concerned, for birds flying midw r ay between 

 them will then be in shot of either one or the 

 other of any two guns, whether before or after the}' 

 have flown by. If the shooters are jealous in the 

 matter of picking up the dead birds after the drives, 

 I would prefer the shelters to be at 80 to 90 yards, 

 as you cannot, in such case, inadvertently claim the 

 birds belonging to the next gun to you, or he, yours. 



Shelters for grouse driving are,, however, always 

 situated so as to command the flight of the birds. If 

 the tract driven is a narrow one, or if the ground the 

 birds pass over is circumscribed, as, for instance, the 

 contraction of a valley, the line of shelters will be, 

 proportionately short, and not over 60 yards apart. 

 If, on the other hand, a wide plain is being driven, it 

 may be necessary to erect the shelters at intervals of, 



