88 NOVEMBER SHOOTING 



forests, never go far in, but try the edges. These 

 birds are also getting much scarcer, for they now 

 take the eggs in Norway and Sweden, and eat them 

 as we do plovers' eggs. 



In looking for woodcock in cold, wet weather, if 

 you do not find them in their usual haunts, try the 

 sunny side of the wood or hill, where it is sheltered 

 from the wind ; they are remarkably fond of being 

 where there are holly bushes. 



In shooting forests or large covers use spaniels ; 

 but these dogs must be perfectly broken and never 

 go out of gun range. It is a very common practice 

 in France to have bells round their dogs' necks, so 

 that you may know where they are ; but I do not 

 like it, it frightens the birds ; and there is danger 

 attached to it. The dogs are sometimes hung up 

 by the collars. I once remember a very good dog, 

 belonging to a friend of mine, being killed in this 

 way — he was hung up in some thick underwood, 

 and when we found him, he was dead. No hunt- 

 ing dog should ever wear a collar when out, under 

 any circumstances. 



November shooting is good shooting, and coverts 

 should not, as a rule, be beaten before then, as the 

 leaves are not off enough ; a quantity of game is 

 wounded and never found, and is left to linger and 

 die. In November, too, the walking is much 



