PARTRIDGES AND PHEASANTS. 159 



bustle overhead, fluttering J 's nerves considerably. 



Then the usual rabbit, at its wits' end to account for the 

 hubbub in these well-guarded woods, bolts across the roadway 

 without the challenge of a shot. Two pheasants followed, 

 rising at once almost perpendicular from the yellow ferns 

 into the air, and attempting to clear the hedgerow hazels, 

 under which the game is now closely hemmed in. Both 

 birds fall, and now the work for some time becomes after 

 its kind exciting. The pheasants, running about hither and 

 thither amongst bramble tangles, or wild rose thickets, put 

 off the much-dreaded flight until they can no longer find any 

 shelter. Then they get up with a swiftness and decision 

 which perhaps redeems the sport from the mere slaughter it 

 would be otherwise, by making it by no means easy to stop 

 them properly before they are behind the oak trees. We are 

 fairly successful, considering the difficulties of weather and 

 position, and soon there are half a score of " gorgeous slain," 

 with two or three rabbits, to be picked up and handed over 

 to the care of the under keeper as a result of a first drive. 

 The process is repeated in another direction, when the guns 

 take places along the edge of some " springs " or sapling 

 oaks, waiting with as much patience as may be, until a black- 

 bird vidette or two, flitting hurriedly overhead, tells that the 

 beaters are approaching. Then the usual excitement and 

 " fusilade " comes off, with more or less satisfactory results. 



During these autumn weeks nearly every bit of woodland 

 in the country sees something of this sort. While unques- 

 tionably not the highest development of woodcraft, properly 

 conducted pheasant shooting is by no means easy and 

 certainly not cruel sport. It is almost the only time when 

 the shooter finds his recreation in woods, which, before 

 winter has completely stripped the trees of their golden 

 spangles, are so proverbially lovely. The surroundings of 

 his amusement are delightful, though probably close to home ; 

 his victims are noble birds, and strong winged, even if they 

 are hand reared, nor by any means so easy to " stop "as is 



