226 



SHOOTING. 



attached to almost all sorts of covers, especially to the sides of 

 pits where alder trees are growing. 



Of all dogs, none are so good for this sport as the setter. 

 Pointers are frequently too tender to follow this bird through the 

 brambles, which is not the case with a good setter ; but care 

 should be taken never to let them range out of gun-shot. The 

 small springing spaniel is frequently used in pheasant shooting, 

 and may answer tolerably well in the beginning of the season, 

 or where the birds have not been much disturbed ; but are by no 

 no means equal to the setter. The springer is too noisy for this 

 diversion* 



In hedge-rows, pheasants lie remarkably well ; and in this case 

 a pointer or a setter will of course make a very steady point, and 

 you must perhaps shake the bush before the bird will rise ; but 

 it is different in covers, where these birds frequently run a con- 

 siderable distance, and it becomes necessary to encourage your 

 dog ; though one a little used to this sport will need no en- 

 couragement. 



Naturalists observe, " Of all game birds, pheasants are shot 

 most easily, as they always make a whirring noise when they 

 rise, by which they alarm the gunner, and, being a large mark, 

 and flying very slow, there is scarcely any missing them." The 

 sportsman cannot but smile at this last sentence. A pheasant 

 is shot easily enough by an old and an experienced sports- 

 man ; but I much doubt whether the tyro stands not a better 

 chance of success when a twiddling snipe rises before him. 

 That the pheasant is a " large mark" every one will readily allow ; 

 that its flight is by no means rapid is equally incontestable ; but 

 the tremendous bustle and whirring noise, which they make in 

 rising, so agitates the inexperienced sportsman, that he not only 

 fires too soon, but, generally without taking aim, and has to en- 

 dure the mortification of seeing the bird fly away unhurt. A 

 cock pheasant, when pushed from a bush or thicket, generally 



