PARTRIDGE-SHOOTING 71 



passed over the guns during the progress of the 

 second. I waited for instructions as to the next 

 drive. On it I have some sort of recollection of 

 a small covey. The next was dead blank. Then 

 came lunch-time. I hung back ; my self-appointed 

 instructor hung back. I explained that the best 

 plans I could think of had been knocked irretrievably 

 on the head, and that the day was ruined ; but, 

 provided there were no further interference (it was 

 politeness alone that caused me to use a term so 

 mild), I consented to do what I could to improve 

 matters. After lunch we betook ourselves to a part 

 of the shoot that had not been ' messed up/ and had 

 some passable drives, getting birds broken up just 

 as it was time to go home. 



Many a good drive has been spoiled by an 

 improper start. A shot or any sort of shooting off 

 is not a good signal, even when there is a strictly 

 enforced rule against shooting between drives ; for 

 you never know when someone unconnected with 

 the party may not let fly, and one shot sounds very 

 much like another. A proper signalling-horn, with 

 two notes, is the best means of communication 

 between the manager of the guns and the directors of 

 beaters. Here is a word of advice for the briefest 

 moment do not let a horn get into the hands of an 

 irresponsible person. I have noticed that those who 

 are addicted to hunting possess very liberal and 

 erratic ideas of horn-blowing when they are shoot- 



