THE BRITISH ISLES 375 



be no doubt that to the good shot the driven bird is preferable. 

 On the other hand, it is a beautiful thing to see two good dogs 

 working their ground, finding their covey, and stealthily approach- 

 ing it. 



I have said that I thought there were two ways of shooting 

 pheasants. There is the common or garden, ordinary way of slaughter- 

 ing them in a barn-fowl style, as they go past the shooter only a few 

 feet overhead. There is the other way, which certainly requires more 

 skill, namely, that of producing them as far from the gunner and as 

 high in the air as is possible. Of course, in the latter case, the lie of 

 the ground is a very important factor. Still, by a litde manoeuvring, 

 even on a flat surface, birds have been known to be allowed to fly 

 across the open to some copse beyond, and then brought back over 

 the oruns to their home covert. 



The hare is an unlucky creature, for he is never quite sure 



whether he is to be chased by a dog or riddled with pellets by a 



man ; and the only satisfaction I have ever got out 



^ Blue Hares. 



of shootine a hare was when it chanced to be my 

 neighbour's, on Mr. Jorrocks' "are soup" principle. Of all the 

 cold, crazy pastimes anyone ever took part in, an autumn drive tor 

 blue hares in the high Scotch mountains takes the prize. It generally 

 sleets— in fact, it always sleets — on these occasions, whilst you perch 

 on the highest peak you can find, for the mountain hare always makes 

 for the highest points of the hills, whilst the beaters from far below 

 gradually drive the game up. With blue nose and numbed fingers 

 you wait till at length some half-blue, half-white, cat-like-looking 

 beasts appear before you and proceed to wash their faces with their 



