HO IV ro SHOW PHEASANTS 145 



but with proper care, especially towards the end, a 

 burst should be avoided, and nearly every bird driven 

 forward into the flush. You may then run a net or 

 wire round the inside of the flush, and feel safe to 

 post your guns and begin the rise at your ease. 



Your greatest danger in beating your birds on this 

 system— that is, in collecting them into a large mass, to 

 be driven into a detached clump or to a flush within 

 the covert — may come from foxes, and it is only fair to 

 add that there are no foxes in Holkham Park. It is 

 possible that a fox may get among the mass of birds 

 just at the critical time, when they are about to cross 

 into the flush, and if so he may spring a large number 

 which will turn back over you ; but here again, as you 

 must risk something, the advantage of having no one 

 ahead, and of your slow pace and the noise, will be 

 apparent. If given time, and thoroughly alarmed, a fox 

 is more likely to break covert and go away than when 

 hemmed in and headed on all sides. When he does 

 break, he may very likely run on into your detached 

 covert, and so do you harm. I would therefore advise 

 you in woods where you are pretty sure to find a fox, 

 not to place the semicircular wire netting spoken of 

 above round your clump, and to give your stops on 

 the far side orders not to head the fox or holloa at 

 him if he shows a disposition to break covert again 



L 



