THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
them in every direction, and until it has left the covert no amount of 
management on the part of the keeper can control the pheasants, and make 
them go in the desired direction. The peculiar call of the cock pheasants 
in such circumstances soon betrays 'what is up. It is quite easy, however, 
to arrange that no fox shall be there when shooting is in progress, if a 
little trouble is taken in the matter. A number of pegs should be driven 
into the ground at intervals along the sides of the main covert, each 
topped with a piece of rag, and the previous evening the keeper should 
proceed along the line of pegs, and sprinkle all the rags with either 
“renardine” or oil of tar, when no fox will venture there that night. If 
“renardine” has been used for stopping out the rabbits, then oil of tar 
should be put on the rags, and vice versa. After the shooting is finished the 
sticks and rags should be collected the same evening. The odour will 
quickly disappear, and foxes will be in the covert again the next day. 
The morning after a shoot, all fences and fields should be early driven 
inwards towards the coverts, for many birds may have passed the night 
there, and hand -reared ones may be inclined to wander off the estate. 
The feed in the coverts should be thrown down at daybreak, for the 
returned birds will be very hungry, and will soon wander if they do not 
find it at the accustomed place; an extra quantity therefore should be 
given. 
It should ever be borne in mind that an essential detail of a day’s 
shooting, contributing in a great measure to its success, is a due con- 
sideration of the respective skill of the shooters. If where the tallest birds 
are sure to come, a gun is placed who is only equal to birds flying at the 
height of a low tree, while one who can “ fetch them out of the skies ” is 
put where the other ought to be, the organizer of the day can only blame 
himself if the results are disappointing. 
R. F. MEYSEY-THOMPSON. 
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