126 SHOOTING THE PHEASANT 



Holkham, a mile, or even two, through continuous 

 belts or covert, and push them out of an open end to 

 the isolated clump, across an open piece of ground. 

 But the farther they get from home, the more nervous 

 they become, and great caution is necessary. They 

 are more and more inclined to turn back ; and should 

 your advancing line once get too close to them, they 

 will flush in a body and come back all together over 

 your head, leaving you, after one abortive fusillade, 

 with nothing to do but to beat the whole covert over 

 again, and only a few brace of birds to show. 



As you walk on, the person directing the opera- 

 tion, be he host or keeper, must have complete and 

 absolute command of the line, and should he see, as 

 he readily will if it occurs, that the line of men is 

 getting too close to the birds (which, when some 

 distance from home, will be running somewhat fitfully 

 and unwillingly before you), he must call a general 

 halt to give them time to run on. Following the 

 invariable characteristic of their nature when disturbed 

 or alarmed, they will gradually do this, and you may 

 then slowly advance again. 



Now, when you get near, say, a hundred and fifty 

 yards from the end of the covert — which in this case 

 should be completely open, with no fence or thicket 

 if possible — the line must be halted absolutely, and a 



