THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
covert the forward guns should push round the end and head the corners, 
many birds will try and slip out whilst the beaters are still far away, 
or dashing round the corner of the wood will drop in the outside ditch. 
o 
Plan of beating a woodcock covert with a gun forward on the centre ride, showing how 
dangerous It is for that gun, and how he masks the fire of his friends even if they know 
where he is. 
Any bird that does break covert should be watched, especially if the 
surrounding country be open, as it will very likely make a big circle 
and come back to the wood which is still being beaten, or else pitch in 
some neighbouring ditch, where, if carefully marked, it can be shot 
when the beat is finished. 
The guns in line should always be on the look out for close lying birds 
that do not rise until the beaters are on or past them, and then nip back ; 
it is not always easy to decide in the momentary chance offered whether 
such a bird is a safe shot or not. A good general rule is that if you can see 
daylight beneath the bird, i.e., between it and the tops of the under- 
wood or young trees, it is safe to shoot at. Again, when nearing the end 
of a wood, the guns in line should stand fast till the cry “ all out ” is 
heard, as the ’cock are more likely than ever to dash back at this time. 
If the woods are very large and wide, two or three woodcock paths 
should be cut parallel to the line of advance, so that more than three guns 
can walk in line; if this is not done many birds will escape unshot at be- 
tween the guns, and where this plan is adopted of course more friends 
can be provided with sport. But in any case it is advisable not to have a 
forward gun in the centre. It is a most tantalizing thing for the gun with 
the beaters to see ’cock after ’cock get up close to him and fly so near the 
line of the man in front that he dare not fire. 
Supposing that the wood be a hanging one on the side of a hill, with 
possibly a fringe of heather or straggling gorse bushes on the outside, 
246 
