262 QUICK METHOD OF FILLING THE BAG. 



men that the early dawn is by no means the most 

 favourable thne for partridge-shooting, yet could 

 not our impatience be checked by this consider- 

 ation. We were generally on the ground when 

 the birds were calling all around us to prepare 

 for their morning meal in the stubble fields, and 

 little time was allowed them for breakfast. The 

 first shot was often fired in the direction pointed 

 out by the covey at its first rising, without our being 

 able to distinguish one bird from another ; or in 

 other words, into the brown of the covey, which 

 if it did not effect much execution, would have 

 at least the effect, according to our old keeper's 

 ideas, of scattering them abroad, and making them 

 lie closer for the next discharge. 



The aim of every steady and well-broken sports- 

 man should be directed to one individual bird, 

 but when the covey Avheels round I have seen 

 some clever hands wait the birds crossing, and 

 bring down their brace at each shot. This is a 

 quick method of filling the bag, although not con- 

 sidered quite the legitimate one. Some men shoot 

 with one eye closed, others with both open, di- 

 rected along the barrel of the gun, but I have 

 known some capital shots who never look at the 

 barrel at all. When the birds rise their eyes are 

 instantly fixed on their victim, and the gun rises 



