COVERT-SHOOTING. 133 



described or in better-conducted field-days, where, 

 as he often shoots well, he may be also found. 

 His object all day seems to be less to enjoy him- 

 self than to spoil the enjoyment of others, and he 

 will always prefer his neighbour's bird to his own. 

 Without being at all stii profiLSus, he is alieni appetens. 

 He is ravenous for the best place, and often unsatisfied 

 when he has got it. He often keeps a score of 

 what he kills, which usually amounts to two-thirds 

 of the whole bag, generously leaving the remainder 

 to be divided among the other four or five guns. 

 He is, in short, a conceited and selfish animal out 

 shooting, and is not always asked a second time, 

 yet in private life sometimes he is not a bad 

 fellow. 



But we will imagine a scientifically-organised and 

 faultless shoot, with none of the above drawbacks, 

 but with six good guns and coverts full of game, 

 a kindly and courteous host, a fine morning in the 

 latter half of November, a slight frost having now 

 (ten A.M.) given way to a bright sun and gentle 



