We remember how an experienced keeper was quite at sea in his judgment
of a particular covey. It had been a bad season, and after the corn had
been cut he knew of only one good covey; it numbered nine birds, and
fine forward birds they were. On this covey he set great store against
the coming of September. It happened that he was bidden to shoot a
couple of brace of young birds for dinner at "the house" on the First.
With his first shot at the covey he bagged the old cock. He pursued the
rest of the covey, bagged another bird, also an old cock. Disappointed
but still hopeful, again he pursued the covey, again he bagged another
bird, and again it was an old cock that fell to his gun. He went on
until he bagged the ninth and last bird, and the ninth was no better
than all the others. It was a sad keeper who went home that day with
his nine old birds. Ever since he has been sceptical about coveys
of forward birds. But he always says now that foxes at least show
gallantry in the matter of "ladies first."
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