ON GROUSE-DRIVING 173 



the general success by putting in some 

 useful work back flanking. 



In laying out a moor for driving, the 

 chief influences to be reckoned with are 

 the general lie of the ground, the natural 

 flight of the birds, the prevalent wind, 

 and how far these primary considerations 

 can be reconciled to the probably conflict- 

 ing local conditions of each separate case. 



Most moors of any size are divided up 

 into beats, each beat being as it were the 

 unit of driving, with ground enough for 

 one or possibly two days' driving, and 

 under the charge of a beat -keeper. If 

 this man be worth his salt he will have 

 made use of his opportunities, and from 

 constant observation in all weathers must 

 know far more than any one else could 

 hope to about the numbers and habits of 

 the birds on his ground. He should have 

 a general idea of the flight of each covey 

 under all the varying conditions of weather 

 and wind, and how far their normal flight 

 is affected by being flushed from a different 

 direction. He must know where the mass 



