i go THE KEEPERS BOOK 



of so much value as in driving grouse. However, the 

 rule we have indicated, when speaking of grouse-driv- 

 ing, as to the drivers first stooping and then gradually 

 rising as the birds come near, sometimes meets with 

 success in turning the birds. 



(3) The line of flight of black game is very constant. 

 On this account, in driving a wood, the keeper is soon 

 able to discover at what parts of the cover the birds 

 usually pass out, and should place the guns accordingly. 

 It is useless, as a rule, to line the guns at equal distances, 

 as in grouse-driving. They should be fairly close to- 

 gether at the places indicated by the keeper. 



(4) Black game will not drive well under the follow- 

 ing conditions : 



(a) When all the corn is not cut. 



(fr) When the day is wild and blustering. 



The best day on which to shoot black game is a dull, 

 misty day when there is little wind. The mist hides 

 the " guns " from the fine, long-ranged sight of the birds. 

 High wind is apt to scatter the packs. 



(5) The keeper should not hesitate, unless he is 

 dealing with experienced black-game shooters, to re- 

 mind the "guns" of two or three very important 

 practices in black-game driving : 



(a) On no account should a hare, breaking away at 

 the opening of the drive, be fired at, nor should the 

 first birds, which generally come singly and are in all 

 likelihood grey hens, be shot. This is an unvarying 

 rule. To fire at these "scouts " is simply to set the 



