214 SHOOTING THE PHEASANT 



CHAPTER VI 



LANDSCAPE AND LARDER 



From what I have written on the severely practical 

 side of pheasant preserving, it might be inferred that 

 I am in favour of a dull uniformity in the shape or 

 arrangement of coverts, or that I could placidly con- 

 template the defacement or destruction of the beauties 

 of Nature with a view to the production of so many 

 more pheasants, or the burning of so many more 

 cartridges. This is far, very far, from representing 

 what I feel or even believe. As may be imagined, after 

 many years devoted to art, my sympathies are specially 

 engrossed by the picturesque side of country life and 

 of sport ; and I am particularly anxious to suggest to, 

 and if possible persuade, my readers that what is good 

 for game is in most cases more likely to be picturesque 

 in appearance than that which is not. 



The inverse view certainly holds good ; ground 

 which is picturesque is almost always suitable for game 

 of some kind — witness the heaths of Norfolk and 



