xxv. GROUND GAME SHOOTING (PART II) 407 



Remember that the chief idea of a rabbit, when he 

 sees the shooters approaching, is either to remain 

 motionless, in the hope of being unobserved, or else, 

 when driven from his seat, to run back, if he can, 

 and thus escape danger. A careful search will check 

 the first inclination, and a close, well-kept line will 

 prevent the second. 



When driving rabbits to guns posted to command 

 rides or openings, always bear in mind that, to induce 

 the animals to pass within shot, there must be some 

 shelter for them to run on to, else they will refuse to 

 face the shooters, and merely double back into cover 

 again. 



To try and force rabbits from a wood past the 

 shooters standing outside it is a hopeless task, if there 

 is no cover at hand they can run forward to ; for 

 they will return between the legs of the beaters rather 

 than risk certain destruction in the open. When a 

 corner of a wood is being driven out, for the pheasants 

 it holds, to the guns posted round it, it is a common 

 remark to hear, ' What a number of rabbits there were 

 in the corner ! but they, unfortunately, all ran back.' 

 Of course they did ; what else could or would they do ? 

 Now, both the rabbits and the pheasants can be shot 

 if you set the right way to work, and as described 

 in fig. 80 (next page). 



