lo8 THE RABBIT 



to the edge of a ride in which one or more guns are 

 posted. Then it is time to take wing, and if the 

 nearest gun knows his business, the fate of that cock 

 pheasant is sealed. 



It is otherwise with rabbits. They will cross a 

 ride at lightning speed as if aware that their lives 

 depend upon it ; pausing only on the edge before 

 crossing, if they happen to come out unexpectedly 

 near to the gun. And, indeed, their safety often 

 depends upon their crossing as near the gun as 

 possible ; for no one with any regard to the condition 

 of game when picked up will care to risk blowing a 

 rabbit to pieces at such close quarters. 



Where the stuff is very thick, rabbits will often 

 linger on the edge of a ride until the beaters are 

 almost upon them, and ' the fun then becomes fast and 

 furious.' Three or four rabbits may be seen crossing 

 at the same time, and it often happens that on a cry 

 of ' Rabbit for'ard ! ' the shooter's attention is directed 

 so closely to the ground in front of him, that he 

 misses a good chance at a cock pheasant which 

 skims noiselessly overhead while he is ' otherwise 

 engaged.' 



The variety of shots afforded by rabbits in covert 

 is best known to those who have tried to hit them, 

 and many a keen shooter has discovered, by the 



