THE PARTRIDGE 223 



the necessity for good cover, and remember the rule of 

 experience, that guns should stand near to the hedge 

 in up-wind drives, and well out from the hedge in 

 down-wind drives. From a high fence in the latter 

 case the guns should stand far out. 



(3) The law of making experimental drives, as laid 

 down in the chapter on Grouse, must be followed. In 

 this way the line of the general flight of the birds will 

 be learnt, and it must be carefully remembered that 

 partridges will not be driven the way they are not 

 accustomed to go. 



(4) It is best to preface a drive by ordering the 

 beaters, in the morning, to drive the birds from off any 

 outlying ground. 



(5) It is advisable to have the first drive with the 

 birds driven down wind. 



(6) The beaters, on moving forward to a drive, 

 should pass along a boundary fence. 



(7) In bringing back the birds for another drive, 

 the knowledge of their flight is important. It is use- 

 less to attempt to bring back birds from directly behind 

 the guns if the birds have not flown there. This seems 

 a truism, but it is necessary to indicate that such foolish- 

 ness is often practised. Remember the seemingly 

 simple, but oft forgotten, rule : Bring back the birds 

 from where they have flown with the wind. 



It is advisable, in bringing back birds against the 

 wind, that some of the guns should walk with the 

 beaters, as a great many birds in this case break back. 



