224 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



(8) The head-keeper should form the centre of the 

 line of beaters, to guide and warn the flanks, and he 

 should, for preference, be mounted. 



(9) The law of flanking is the same as in the case 

 of grouse-driving. A screen, well thrown forward, 

 should always be formed on the down-wind side. 

 Flanks should be enlarged and increased according to 

 the wind, and it is as well that good guns be placed 

 along with the flanks who are on the down-wind side. 

 When there are no guns on the flanked side, or when 

 their presence is discounted, there should be a good 

 deal of shouting and waving of flags on that side. 



( 10) In addition to the keepers, who stand with their 

 retrievers behind the stationary guns, there should be 

 a keeper or two at the other end of the field in which 

 the guns are standing, to mark and pick up towering 

 birds, and those that have dropped far out. 



( 1 1 ) All birds should be picked up on the day of 

 the drive. Scouring the fields on the day following 

 disturbs the birds too much. Partridges should always 

 be allowed a day of rest after a drive. 



Poaching the Partridge 



Where it is possible, there should always be extra 

 hands engaged in the nesting season, and every care 

 should be taken to systematically watch the fields 

 where there are nests. Bushing must be carefully 

 carried out. " An excellent plan " (writes Sir R. 

 Payne Gallwey) " to check the operation of poachers 



