224 PARTRIDGES 



the centre advances are dealt with by the 

 forward guns on the flanks, while the 

 centre guns although they naturally 

 cannot shoot at birds rising in front of 

 them get some very pretty shooting at 

 birds breaking back from the horns of 

 the crescent. 



Whether undertaken on a large or 

 a small scale and the numbers engaged 

 may be anything from six to sixty the 

 beaters must always be thoroughly drilled, 

 and the guns such as may be absolutely 

 relied on never to fire a dangerous shot 

 under any circumstances, if the manoeuvre 

 is to be carried out both with success 

 and safety. 



Five minutes' explanation with a pencil 

 and half a sheet of paper will show any 

 but the stupidest of beaters the part he 

 has to play. Without some such pre- 

 caution, if the men do not understand 

 clearly what is wanted of them, the 

 whole performance rapidly degenerates 

 into farce, which the presence of a gun 

 who is at all likely to lose his head in 



