6 LEAVES FKOM A GAME BOOK. 



to be forced. If to his right rear nothing but fallows are 

 to be seen, while behind him on his left a field of roots is 

 visible, then he will stand as much to the left as he fairly 

 can, for he will know that birds will be more likely to 

 make for the cover of the root field, if the day be dry, 

 than for the bare shelter of the fallow ; but given a wet 

 day, then he will exactly reverse his proceedings. Having 

 seen all this at a glance, he will then place himself as far 

 back as the height of the hedge will allow, and directly 

 half-way between two clumps of high trees, for he will be 

 equally well aware that birds usually come over a hedge 

 at the lowest place. Even in those countries where the 

 birds are put over belts of fir trees, the man with an 

 educated eye will do better and get easier and more fre- 

 quent shots than the ** duffer," for in such a country he 

 will elect to stand behind some place where a short tree 

 or two lowers the outline of the belt at one particular 

 spot, through which gap it is nearly certain birds driven 

 for the first time are pretty sure to come. Once again, 

 turn a good man and a tyro into a fifty-acre turnip field, 

 without dogs or beaters, and behold, the former will find 



