HINTS ON GROUSE DRIVING 145 



on the wing behind us, and with little chance of 

 arresting his career. Not so the past master; he 

 took a long shot at the leading bird, some forty 

 yards in front of his battery, killed it, and then, 

 instead of firing the second barrel, dropped his first 

 gun, picked up his second (he was using three), 

 secured two more grouse before they passed him, 

 caught up his third weapon, and killed the remaining 

 brace of birds behind him a truly artistic perform- 

 ance, and a good practical lesson to the men who 

 will not see that to shoot at a bird as he is coming 

 to you affords by far the best chance of adding him 

 to the score, and yet the reasoning is so simple. 

 When you put up your gun to face an approaching 

 bird, be it pheasant, grouse, or partridge, every iota 

 of a second brings him nearer your killing radius, 

 and into greater danger to himself. You may fire 

 at him with impunity at a good long range in front 

 of you, giving yourself ample time to get off your 

 second barrel at another bird still in front of you 

 after you know that the first shot has taken effect 

 the birds fly into your charge as they meet it, and 

 absolutely, when in front of you, assist at their own 

 destruction; whereas, after a bird has passed behind, 

 every beat of LIs wing increases the distance between 

 you, and renders more remote any chance of a better 

 acquaintance. Sideways you cannot fire, on account 

 of the proximity of the neighbouring butts, except 

 on one side or the other, when you happen to be 



L 



