134 SHOOTING THE PHEASANT 



clump, and advanced very slowly as the pheasants 

 thin out. Should the birds have come to the guns 

 so often singly, or in such fashion that you think too 

 many are being killed, you have only to press your 

 line of beaters on a Httle to produce a flush which 

 will have the double result of affording a very pretty 

 sight, and of insuring the escape of a sufficient 

 number for a second shooting and for stock. 



Now as to placing your guns, sometimes a very 

 simple thing, at others a delicate matter involving 

 considerable diplomacy ; founded on your knowledge 

 of the comparative skill, the more or less trustworthy 

 qualities, and the vanities or weaknesses of your guests. 



The nearest line of guns, under the sort of circum- 

 stances I have tried to describe, should be about forty 

 to fifty yards from the fence inclosing the clump, and 

 be more in number than the rear line, say in the pro- 

 portion of five to three where you have a large quan- 

 tity of birds, or five to two where there are fewer. 



If the form of the whole team be about equal, you 

 must give them turn and turn about at different 

 stands ; but it is considerable odds that this will not 

 be the case. Place the two or three weakest and most 

 greedy ' in the best places in the front line ; this will 



' The two qualities will often be found to go together in the 

 same person. 



