COVERT SHOOTING. 387 



COVERT SHOOTING. 



This kind of shooting is generally carried out by the aid of 

 human beaters, who, either with or without dogs, enter the covert 

 and drive the game to the shooter. Sometimes, however, the 

 sportsman has a train of thoroughly broken spaniels, beagles, or 

 terriers, and with these he goes quietly to work, either making 

 them drive the game to him, or else keeping them at work so 

 close to him, as he walks through the covert, that any game which 

 is disturbed comes within shot. In either case the dogs should 

 be thoroughly under command, as has been explained in the 

 chapter treating of the breaking of them to the gun, and, beyond 

 the remarks there introduced, there is little to be said. A prac- 

 tical acquaintance with each animal is more requisite here than 

 in any other kind of shooting, because the sportsman always is 

 being called upon to judge of the proximity of the dog to his 

 game, and of the kind of game also by his note at the time. 

 Hence practice is all important, and directions are of little avail. 

 The shooter must, however, be quick in his movements in getting 

 to his dogs when they give tongue in a way to lead him to expect 

 that they are close upon their game, or he will get few shots ; 

 and in this one of the chief arts of covert shooting consists. It 

 is, however, useless to attempt any further explanation of its 

 details. 



Whether spaniels, beagles, or terriers make the best covert dogs 

 is a point which is sometimes discussed ; but I think there is a 

 general feeling in favour of the first, and at present the Clumber 

 spaniel is certainly the fashion. He is more suited to battues, 

 which are now the only kinds of covert shooting much in vogue, 

 for the reason that pheasants will not bear disturbing many times 



