SHOOTING 



The 1st of September is a day more looked forward 

 to by the general sporting public than any other. 

 August 12 th and October 1st may be eagerly anti- 

 cipated by the wealthy sportsman, but September 1st 

 is the day most generally looked forward to. Nor is 

 the reason difficult to discover. Partridge-shooting 

 is comparatively the cheapest of sports. So long 

 as vermin is kept down by trapping, and the fields 

 properly bushed in the season, to prevent the birds 

 being netted, a fair number are sure to be found. 

 There are few better or more exciting sports than 

 partridge-driving. People who have never tried 

 and those who have tried and failed, affect to despise 

 it ; but, in spite of all, it is an excellent sport, if 

 only for the reason that all can join in it. The old 

 and young, the weak and strong, and even ladies, 

 honour the stands with their presence ; though this 

 cannot be said to add to the accuracy of the shooting, 

 for partridge-driving arrangements are usually made 

 so as to arrive at the first set of stands somewhere 

 about eleven. Here the head-keeper is met, who, 

 306 



