272 PHEASANTS 



to whom every chance of letting off the 

 gun is a mighty joy by varying degrees 

 of nausea, according to the susceptibilities 

 of the individual. 



There are, doubtless, those who take 

 delight in plastering low pheasants, for 

 the simple reason that a better one is 

 too good for them ; it may be right that 

 they should wallow in blood and feathers 

 to their heart's content ; only let it be 

 done in private; in public it is a nasty 

 business, and brings fair shooting into 

 disrepute. 



Some stress has been laid on this aspect 

 of covert-shooting, because badly managed 

 shoots are far commoner than might be 

 supposed, considering how many places 

 there are scattered about the land where 

 the whole business is carried through in 

 workmanlike fashion. Ignorance can 

 alone be held responsible, for when the 

 host does not happen to know the rules 

 of the game, he is likely to remain un- 

 conscious of any shortcomings in his shoot- 

 ing. The candid friend who will give an 



