288 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



the centre of the two posterior ones. As the pheasants 

 are pushed forward some will collect behind the first 

 netting, some behind the second, and some behind the 

 third. Each division can then be flushed separately. 



In some places where they have small pheasant 

 shoots, matters are improved, and pheasants are shown 

 better, by prefacing the first covert shoot by a dummy 

 one, a sort of dress rehearsal, a few days before. 

 Keepers are placed with blank cartridges, and the birds 

 are sent over the guns once. By this method the head- 

 keeper is able to note the flight of the birds and deduce 

 therefrom the proper position of the guns, and in addi- 

 tion to this the birds fly higher when the real " trouble " 

 begins. 



In addition to what has been said, the following 

 practical points may be indicated : 



(i) Sewin may be used as an excellent form of 

 stop, both for hares and pheasants. 



Sewin is made by fastening white feathers and 

 scarlet tape at intervals of a yard, and ferret bells at 

 intervals of five yards, on to white or yellow cord, which 

 is placed on sticks some two and a half feet high, 

 firmly planted in the ground. The sewin is continually 

 jerked by a beater, specially told off for the purpose. 

 It may be used both inside and outside of the coverts. 

 The sewin is kept on a reel, and is wound round an 

 iron frame. The reel, the frame, and the sewin are 

 supplied by well-known firms, and the Army and 

 Navy Stores. 



