204 SHOOTING THE GROUSE 



and have it largely in their power to frustrate the most 

 elaborate manoeuvres. If you have to select a new 

 chief, it is far better to promote the most trustworthy 

 of the men who have been driving on the moor for 

 years, rather than to put a man over their heads who 

 has been mostly used to low-ground shooting, merely 

 because he is considered ' fit for a head keeper's 

 place.' 



Very difficult manoeuvres have sometimes to be 

 executed, and unless your moor is very large in extent 

 it is only by the most delicate and experienced hand- 

 ling, in which every man must honestly co-operate, 

 that the birds can be kept upon your ground. Five 

 thousand acres is not nearly enough to hold large 

 packs in a high wind, unless they are very well ma- 

 naged. Suppose, for instance, that a large number of 

 birds are packed at the head of a valley and on the 

 ridge, close to the march, and there is a strong wind 

 blowing towards the march. Unless your men get 

 round very gingerly, keeping out of sight as carefully 

 as a stalker getting up to deer, on the down-wind side, 

 the game is up, and possibly your whole day's spcrt 

 spoilt. 



I have seen this very manoeuvre beautifully carried 

 out, and even the birds, having somehow taken the 

 alarm, rise and make a big circuit round near the march 



