148 SHOOTING THE PHEASANT 



that try to break back from the flush near the wire 

 netting. 



When beating coverts that hang on the side of 

 steep hills, as on the Yorkshire wolds, or on other pre- 

 cipitous or hilly ground, you can be pretty sure of high 

 rocketers, but you will get the maximum of high birds 

 and the minimum of low ones if you plant and thicken 

 the covert along the top side, and keep it thin on the 

 lower. Then, as you beat along the face of the hill, 

 keep the lower end of your line well forward, and the 

 birds will have a tendency to run uphill all the time, 

 and being flushed from the top, will give high and 

 beautiful shots in whatever direction they fly. 



In such localities as these, the detached clump 

 system is hardly necessary : there should be no 

 difficulty, by adhering to the principle given above 

 and always flushing your birds off the higher part of 

 the ground, in showing them to perfection. 



It is in a flat, or only slightly undulating, country, 

 perhaps not blest with tall trees, that the methods I 

 have described will be found of most value. In so 

 doing I have carefully avoided advising anything im- 

 practicable or theoretic ; but those who have hitherto 

 found a difficulty in showing their birds well, and 

 who are inclmed to try new methods to meet the 

 views of the modern gunner, must bear in mind that 



