312 SHOOTING 



inclined to stop and scratch at one, do not tell 

 your keeper to " call the tiresome beast off," as he 

 is always after rabbits, for it is ten to one that 

 a Frenchman has taken refuge there. You will 

 often find that the birds have got down almost to 

 the end of the hole. However, they give capital 

 sport, as they rise out of such unexpected places 

 that you must always be ready for a shot. Besides 

 the sport, it is an excellent way of keeping these 

 " pests " down ; for they really are " pests," driving 

 about the English birds in the breeding season, and 

 bothering your dogs awfully in the beginning of the 

 shooting season by their habits of running ; indeed, 

 until driving commences, you hardly ever kill a 

 Frenchman ; but this is not much of a loss, as 

 when they are shot they are not worth eating. 

 One thing, you can send them away as presents to 

 people who do not know their merits, and are very 

 much pleased with them on account of their size and 

 the beauty of their plumage, doubtless putting down 

 their hardness and want of flavour to their cook ! 



But partridge-shooting _^9r;?' excellence is over dogs. 

 It is a treat indeed to see a brace of well-broken 

 pointers or setters at work : the speed with which 

 they quarter their ground, and yet their perfect 

 steadiness ; to see the dog that finds the game stop 

 dead in his gallop, limbs all rigid, as if he was 



