HOW TO SHOW PHEASANTS 127 



general noise, shouting, and rattling of sticks must be 

 kept up. 



Gradually the older birds, cocks first, will lead the 

 way across the open to- the nearest shelter, that being 

 the clump or spinney into which you wish to put them, 

 and when once this exodus has begun, provided that 

 your line keeps stationary, you are safe ; the mass of 

 pheasants will go on, even over obstacles, such as 

 fences, ditches, or broken covert, flying, skimming, 

 and running, until, when like a more famous general 

 you order the whole line to advance, every bird is 

 safely sheltered in the detached covert in front of 

 you. 



Previously to this, to follow the Holkham plan to 

 the letter, a wire netting should have been placed, in 

 semicircular form, round the outside of the clump. 

 This will keep the birds from running out of it on 

 the far side, and will have been acting as a stop to 

 the hares, should you be lucky enough to have any, 

 while you were beating up the covert. 



At Holkham no one is allowed to shoot a phea- 

 sant during the beat towards the clump, excepting a 

 cock that turns back over the line ; but this, of course, 

 would render the advance rather monotonous where 

 there were no woodcocks or ground-game. The 

 whole of this historic performance takes place there 



