186 THE KEEPERS BOOK 



strong head wind, so that the drives of the day must 

 be regulated by the direction of the wind, and not by 

 rule of thumb. 



(8) Different coloured flags should be used by the 

 different members of the drive. For instance, plain 

 white for the rank and file, red for the centre or 

 head man, and red and white for the flank men and 

 points. 



(9) Drivers should come to a halt about fifty yards 

 in front of the butts, and stay there till all the birds are 

 picked up by the keepers and their dogs. When birds 

 are flying towards the butts, the head-keeper should 

 blow his whistle to give warning to the guns. 



PICKING UP AND PACKING OF BIRDS 



(1) Where dead birds can be seen they may be 

 picked up by hand before the retriever is loosened, but 

 in doing so, care should be taken not to spoil the scent 

 for the dogs by tramping all over the ground. On no 

 account should beaters be allowed to pick up birds, for 

 this reason this should be left to the keeper, with his 

 well-trained retriever or spaniel. The man who owns 

 a well-trained spaniel or retriever should never go to a 

 grouse drive without his dog. 



(2) Birds should never be put in panniers and carts 

 at once, but should be allowed to cool. 



(3) The packing into the panniers or carts should 

 be carefully and systematically carried out, the birds 



