TYPES OF SHOOTERS 193 
expended on that rabbit the equivalent of its full 
market value. 
To show how far some shooters can jump to a 
conclusion, here are two incidents with which as a 
keeper I had to contend. It was not a big day; 
and I, having a gun, was standing in a side-ride, 
while four shooters were forward. I was watching 
an old cock on the ground, apparently considering 
his next move, for his case seemed somewhat evil. 
Bang! and the stuff shivered a couple of yards above 
the pheasant, and, it seemed to me, at a level about 
right for the beaters, who were none too far back ; 
however, the shot helped the pheasant to make up 
his mind, and he rose with a great splutter, flew 
forward, and was neatly stopped by the gun on the 
left of the man who had fired—well, a little pre- 
viously. When the beat was done I was informed 
‘that there were two pheasants to pick up, one in 
front and one behind the ride in which the guns 
stood. The bird I knew so much about was the 
only one in the beat, fell behind, and I picked him 
up; but the anticipating shooter insisted that he had 
another in front. I suggested that the bird I had 
picked up was his bird, which might have got up 
again. ‘Oh dear no,’ he explained; ‘I saw him 
on the ground (which I believed), and directly he 
opened his wings and flew I had a cut at him and 
downed him.’ I had to waste time pretending to 
look for that bird, and finally regretted to'say that 
13 
