428 LETTERS TO YOUNG SVOOTEKS LETTER 



to it to feed on acorns or beechnuts, when their ordi- 

 nary food in the fields is covered by snow. 



3rd. Shooting them inside a covert as they fly in 

 to roost in the evening. 



4th. Shooting them on the open fields during the 

 day, as they feed on new-sown grain, or seeds just 

 sprouting. 



I will describe these four plans of attack in suc- 

 cession. 



SHOOTING WOODPIGEONS IN A COVERT DURING THE DAY 

 AS THEY NOW AND THEN FLY IN FROM THE FIELDS 



This is usually a very successful way of killing the 

 pigeons, and is one that can be practised during the 

 entire day, and not only in the evening, as when the 

 birds fly in to roost. The great desideratum to obtain 

 sport in this style of shooting is wind, and plenty of 

 it ; if a gale, all the better. 



However many pigeons frequent a wood, and you 

 enter it with a view to making a bag without the 

 assistance of a strong wind, it is ten to one you will 

 be disappointed. The birds may be flying overhead 

 continually ; but if the weather is fine and calm 

 they will keep at an altitude that is well beyond the 

 reach of your gun ; occasionally a bird may slant 

 down within a long shot and you are tempted to fire, 

 the result being, even if you obtain your bird, that all 



