86 



COCK SHOOTING 



Sometimes one can take a post commanding with his gun the 

 whole of a woodcock covert. It is not, however, always easy to hit a 

 bird which appears above the crisp brown leaves of the sapless shrub- 

 bery for only an instant, describing a curve that irresistibly reminds 

 one of the leap of a salmon as it immediately pitches to earth again. 

 Very trying is this kind of shooting to a young and inexperienced 

 dog, for out of his master's sight he often falls into the incurably 

 bad habit of flushing the bird himself, instead of waiting until 

 his owner either walks the bird up or else throws in a well-aimed 

 missile to start it on its way. 



ENTERING A COVERT. 



In many coverts it is often necessary to plunge into the thick of 

 the tangle. One has to listen carefully to the tiny bells attached to 

 the collars of his dogs. Suddenly there is silence. One cannot see 

 the dogs, but guesses where Blaze is backing Rex, and makes a dash 

 towards the spot. Yes, there are the faithful fellows, each rigid as 

 a piece of sculpture ! But there is the fire of intense life in their 

 glistening eyes, and Rex has one paw lifted as if he were powerless 

 to move it ever again. 



A fat old cock, that perchance has fed all the summer in this 

 network of light and shade, is now perhaps only ten feet or maybe 

 only ten inches in front of his keen nostrils. A step or two forward, 



