HOW TO SffOIF PHEASANTS 139 



coverts, usually small isolated ones, where no power 

 on earth will induce the pheasants to fly on forward, 

 but where their instinct is to turn back, or out at the 

 sides, in order to come into the covert again behind 

 you. In this case it should not be forgotten that the 

 post of honour for your best guns is not forward, but 

 with the beaters, and that the two outside positions 

 are probably the best. 



Let these guns, unless the covert is altogether too 

 thick, walk with the beaters a little way inside the covert 

 instead of outside it. They will be able to reach all 

 that break out at the side to fly back, and inwards to 

 the middle of the covert as well ; whereas if they walk 

 outside they will not be able to reach those flying 

 back over the trees, they will not kill the ground-game, 

 and can only be of use on one side. I have walked 

 outside a covert parallel with the beaters many 

 hundred times, and seen many others do so, but I 

 never yet saw anyone have much shooting in that 

 position. Guns are usually so placed from the keeper's 

 idea that they dislike exertion of any kind, and are 

 averse to going through the covert ; whereas, provided 

 it is not so thick that you cannot traverse it safely with 

 the gun, or see to shoot, it is always pleasanter and 

 more remunerative to the bag to walk inside. 



The most detestable form of pheasant shooting is 



