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 sui profusus^ 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 



