'KITING' ON THE DOWNS 183 



But straight shooting is never more wanted than 

 with the kite. Birds fly fast, low, and twisting, and 

 in this case there was a nice wind to help them, so 

 that we soon had to laugh at ourselves and congratulate 

 the birds. 



Making straight for the hill-top, we passed over 

 some long sloping stubbles, and before long one of the 

 party held up his hand. " Come up quick," he said ; 

 " there is a whole covey squatting in this pit," and he 

 pointed to a slight hollow in front of him, from which 

 chalk had been taken. " Spring them," we said ; and 

 then watched him carefully pick up a clod, and shy 

 it at the birds. Up they all jumped, with no end of 

 a screeching and cackle, and then did our friend care- 

 fully miss them right and left. 



After some remarks by an old shepherd who had 

 joined us, to the effect that " when 'em's scared 'em 

 twistes, and when 'em twistes 'em's bad to hit," we 

 got the kite over a field of swedes. Now, a swede 

 field in December, after the frost, means so many 

 acres of hard round balls, with no leaf on top. But, 

 bad as it was, it was the only cover we had, and the 

 birds were there. Like prudent creatures, though 

 afraid to fly, they ran as far as they could ; and it was 

 not till we got to the extreme edge that we had a rise. 

 Then at least forty were flushed at once. Most flew 

 low and fast, twisting ; others rose high and went back, 

 and one old cock waited till all our barrels were empty, 

 and then got up with all the dignity possible and flew 

 down the line. And what was the result of our volley ? 



