24 The Cotirse, the Camp, the Chase 



His idea seems to be that coveys can only be shot in 

 stubbles — ergo, if a fresh, unbroken covey will not lie there, 

 dogs can be of no use. Q.E.D. ! ! 



Another point is that nowadays an owner wants to 

 shoot at a great many other places, and has little time to 

 spare for killing his own game. Formerly, in days of 

 limited facilities for locomotion, the squire had to depend 

 upon his estate at home for his sport, with perhaps a few 

 days with his immediate neighbours. They also were in the 

 same plight, and they wished to make their fun last as 

 long as possible. They had not a great number of friends 

 whom they must invite in return for past hospitality ; and 

 as to shoot properly over dogs there should not be more 

 than two guns, it just suited the habits of the time. In 

 these days the host wishes to kill all the birds in one or 

 two parties and have done with it, and since, in " walking 

 up " birds, it does not matter in the least how many guns 

 there are, he is able to give pleasure and make due return 

 to a great many friends at once. Lastly, there is always 

 excitement in a crowd, and eight or nine good sportsmen 

 gathered together are sure to have a merry time if there is 

 plenty to shoot at, and nothing occurs to mar the pleasure 

 of the day. 



Pointers and setters have therefore fallen into disuse, 

 and more sociable forms of shooting have become the 

 fashion. In the southern counties the country is often too 

 open to make shooting over dogs profitable, and the north 

 has followed the fashion of the south. Late on in the 

 season, too, partridges become so wild, and take such long 

 flights, that pointers and setters can be of little use, so 

 by one means or another the way has been paved for the 

 introduction of " driving." To the skilful gunner this is 



