THE PARTRIDGE 219 



and indicate the flight of coveys. Any piece of high 

 ground near to the scene of action may be used for this 

 purpose, or the marker may even use a tree from which 

 to " look out." Even when hands are scarce it is better 

 to utilise a marker at the expense of the number of 

 beaters and attendants than to dispense with him alto- 

 gether, unless the lie of the land be such that he is 

 either useless or superfluous. This will be found a very 

 exceptional condition of affairs. There must be no 

 " halloing " between keeper and marker. A code of 

 signals may be arranged, a whistle being used for pre- 

 ference. It is well, however, for the keeper or one of 

 his underlings to interview the marker from time to 

 time and thus be able to obtain accurate information. 



(3) It should never be suggested that guns should 

 go into a turnip field unless birds have been seen to go, 

 or are known to have gone, into it. 



(4) Before the guns and beaters begin to cross a 

 field, the keeper should see that the hedgerows at the 

 beginning of the beat are thoroughly searched, and that 

 all the fences are explored, before the field is finally 

 abandoned. 



(5) The keeper should be particularly careful to 

 warn the guns to keep a sharp look-out at the end of 

 every beat. Guns are apt to slacken their attention as 

 they approach a hedgerow or the corner of a field. It 

 is at such places that birds, which have run ahead in 

 front of the guns, are apt to rise. 



(6) If it be left to the keeper to decide how the guns 



