Ill 



Pheasants. 



perfectly plain, and vastly conducive to the benefit of the 

 interests the keeper has under his care. 



What can be written upon the matter of the regular 

 shooting- rides must be mostly of a speculative or negative 

 character, so much being dependent upon the size, forma- 

 tion, and character of the woodlands to be dealt with. 

 Except upon the very best organised shootings, it is of 

 frequent occurrence to find the shooting-rides, be their 

 formation what it may, wholly inadequate for the purpose 

 for which they are provided. The reason mainly is that the 

 ride is formed with more regard to its width on the ground 

 than its width over what may be called the fire-zone, and 

 also in regard to the description of trees flanking the ride. 

 Given a fairly open covert speaking with more reference 

 to the thickness of the upper-growth of the trees than their 

 closeness to one another then the width of the ride may 

 be less than if the reverse be the case, when the upper- 

 growth is heavy and overhanging. The point to be con- 

 sidered is the scope offered for clear shooting at birds 

 rising from or passing over the ride, not the actual width 

 cleared or left clear of trees. In this respect a good deal 

 depends upon the height of the trees, and in the case of 

 young woods it will, whatever the spaces left unplanted 

 for the rides, be necessary to increase the width as the 

 trees grow up, if insufficient space be provided when the 

 planting is done. Wherever there is a fairly abrupt bend 

 in the direction followed by the ride, it may also be 

 necessary for purposes of shooting to reduce this also, or 

 considerable interference in the sport may be occasioned. 



These are the chief points which the preserver must con- 

 sider in relation to the rides through his coverts, and that 

 affect practically all of them; but in regard to their 

 direction and number he must be guided by purely local 

 considerations. But it may be mentioned that where they 



