56 VARIETIES OF SHOOTING. 



CHAPTER IV.. 

 COVERT SHOOTING. 



PHEASANT SHOOTING COCK SHOOTING RABBIT SHOOTING. 



THE various kinds of covert shooting which, are compre- 

 hended in the above table of contents, differ from one another 

 most materially, and must be described under separate head- 

 ings. Battue shooting and cock shooting can scarcely be 

 considered as at all resembling one another; the former being 

 capable of being carried on in a wheel-chair, while the latter 

 requires strength and activity in the highest degree. As 

 before, I shall describe in due order the material for the 

 sport, the nature of our coverts, the covert gun, the dogs 

 used in each variety of covert shooting, the dress most suitable 

 for it, and the various modes of conducting it. 



PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



The PHEASANT (Phasianus Colchicus), together with the 

 HARE and the RABBIT, form the staple of what is commonly 

 known as pheasant shooting whichever mode may be adopted 

 in carrying on this sport. The two latter, however, are only 

 incidentally shot at, and do not form the peculiar objects of 

 the sportsman's search. In addition to the common pheasant 

 we have now a considerable number of the Indian variety 

 introduced into England; these birds being supposed to be more 

 hardy, and affording better sport from their greater rapidity 

 of flight, especially as they rise from the ground. The Indian 

 pheasant is a very neat and elegant bird, its plumage lying 

 closer than the ordinary kind, and making it look smaller 

 than it really is. There is little difference of colour, except- 

 ing that the new importations have rings round their necks. 

 They breed freely together. The common pheasant is diffused 

 throughout England, but does not thrive in Scotland, which 



