RABBITS, PARTRIDGES, PIGEONS 147 



are giving tongue. It is a good plan to wait a 

 little at open glades now and then, whilst the dogs 

 are bustling about in the undergrowth near by. 

 Often rabbits will come stealing across these open 

 spaces, stopping for a few seconds here and there, 

 listening to the dogs, and uncertain where they 

 can most safely betake themselves to. It is never 

 so satisfactory shooting these irresolute rabbits in 

 covert — creeping rabbits or creepers as we some- 

 times call them — but in this method of covert 

 shooting with dogs it is necessary sometimes to 

 do so. 



The open spaces are good spots at which to 

 stand and get shots at the rabbits running fast 

 away from the dogs. Stand quite still and presently 

 you will get a clinking broadside shot at a rabbit 

 going perhaps as fast as he does in the open when 

 well on his feet. It is good, clean work when you 

 lay the rabbit dead thus, and the three or four dogs, 

 wildly giving tongue as they rushed after him, 

 suddenly become silent, and go off to put up 

 another. One such rabbit is certainly worth half-a- 

 dozen creepers. 



Sometimes the strip of covert to be taken runs 

 parallel with either a fairly broad or narrow wood- 

 land ride, and one gun walks along this ride whilst 

 the keeper and the other gun walk through the 

 underwood. If you are in the ride, you take the 

 rabbits which cross it within forty yards distance. 

 You will not be troubled much by creepers then 

 perhaps. Walk along, not in the middle of the ride, 



