SHOOTING 311 



exception that some of the excited sportsmen cool 

 down a little, and, in consequence, improve in their 

 shooting. Driving is the least fatiguing of any 

 sport to the shooters, the drivers having to go such 

 long rounds to their different starting-points that 

 there is not the least need to hurry from stand to 

 stand, but you can pick your way and go by the 

 easiest route. The actual shooting, however, is 

 difficult ; it requires skill and coolness to get the 

 exact knack of the thing. I well remember, after 

 one drive, a man, who really was a remarkably 

 good shot over dogs or walking up birds, coming to 

 me with an expression of the greatest disgust on 

 his face, and saying, " I have actually missed eight 

 shots running ! " However, he soon got into the 

 way of it ; but at first you do not discover the pace 

 the birds go at, and are rather bothered by their 

 coming right at you. 



After a morning's driving very good sport can 

 be got in the afternoon by going out with a couple 

 of steady spaniels after the French partridges. 

 You will find these birds have hidden themselves 

 in the most wonderful places, under clods and 

 small lumps of hedge-cuttings, in tufts of grass, 

 holes by gate-posts ; in fact, there is no telling 

 where they may have got to. A rabbit-hole is a 

 very favourite place ; so if one of your dogs seems 



