SHOOTING 317 



rise must be netted most carefully, perfect silence 

 being kept, and as little noise of any kind made as 

 possible. When the beat has actually commenced 

 not a point must be left unguarded, the smallest 

 ditch or grip with grass in it must have a " stop " 

 at it, and any hare or rabbit runs that there may 

 be must be stopped also. The boys who act as 

 " stops " have to be well drilled in their parts, just 

 to keep a subdued kind of rattle with their two 

 short sticks, and by no means to strike the bushes 

 in cover — merely to use their sticks as a kind of 

 Castanet. In fact, pheasants are at once the 

 keeper's greatest pride and greatest plague, from 

 the time when he has to guard the wild birds' 

 nests against egg-stealers, and to watch those 

 brought up under hens — ever on the look-out for 

 gapes or croup when they are quite young, and 

 then when older, and turned into the covers, on the 

 watch for poachers or vermin, until the grand 

 shooting-day ; and even until that is over his 

 anxiety is unceasing. It is very difficult to pre- 

 vent them straying, particularly in a district where 

 there are many oaks, as they will, however well 

 fed, roam after acorns. And then to insure there 

 being a proper quantity of pheasants in the required 

 places is no easy work. With all the pains pos- 

 sible, it is extraordinary how they will stray away. 



