THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
deer park at pleasure. They were never allowed to establish burrows 
in the two enclosures named, and as there was plenty of fern and rough 
grass in them, there was no lack of covert for shooting purposes. A good 
many rabbits were bred in another part of the deer park. To get at these 
a portion of the best feeding -ground was kept free from burrows. The 
same tactics were pursued inside the warren. Large patches of ground 
alongside the wall were set apart, the fern mown down at times to improve 
the grass, and all holes dug out. The rabbits were not allowed to feed on 
these patches and enclosures for a few days before the day of shooting, and 
great was the anxiety of all concerned when the night for the pitch arrived. 
This was, of course, the night before the appointed shooting day, and the 
bag depended on the wind and weather being favourable. Everything was 
kept as quiet as possible inside the park and warren, and as soon as the 
proper moment had come, when the rabbits were supposed to be well on 
the feed, the doors in the wall were shut and locked, and long nets of the 
usual square -meshed stop pattern were set between the burrows and 
feeding patches. Sometimes the whole thing was a failure. Thick fog or 
heavy rain will keep rabbits at home effectually. When the pitch was suc- 
cessful, there was some very pretty shooting, and by no means easy. The 
rough ground was always well covered with long grass and fern, so that 
by the time the guns were posted and at work the rabbits were seated all 
over their allotted area. In one day 2,103 were killed over the whole beat. 
In striking contrast to this kind of shooting mention may be made of 
rabbiting on the sandhills and in the cliffs, the enjoyment of which depends 
rather on the remoteness of the situation, the picturesqueness of the sur- 
roundings, and the invigorating air which blows in from the sea, than upon 
the amount of shooting to be obtained. For it will often happen that rabbits 
on the coastline may be plentiful enough, but from the nature of their 
haunts — which may be exposed sandhills with innumerable burrows, 
or rugged cliffs full of holes and crannies — it is by no means easy to get 
within shot of them. They will often wait, apparently with little or no 
concern, until you are very nearly, though not quite, within range, and 
then, having admirably judged the distance at which they feel safe, will 
scuttle off to their burrows out of harm’s way. 
In such situations as this, and indeed on exposed ground of any extent, 
such as a warren, or open downland, where rabbits are plentiful but 
covert scarce, the proper weapon to use is a small-bore rifle. This will be 
found very effective at rabbits beyond the ordinary range of a shot gun, and 
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