FLYING PHEASANTS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sir William Beach Thomas's remarks on the blind flying of pheasants recalls an incident of some years ago.
I was riding rather fast alongside a cover, which hounds were drawing, when I was aware of a pheasant flying straight at me. The next thing I knew was that I had been violently hit on the chest, so violently that I nearly came off backwards. Hounds had started to run, or I should have pulled up to see if the pheasant had suffered in the collision. He must, at least, have been winded.
This brings back another hunting recollection connected with birds. A member of the hunt was riding slowly along, when he caught sight of a partridge, of the red-legged variety, running by, and in an idle moment he flicked at it with his hunt- ing crop. The bird dropped. Immediately after, another Frenchman scooted by ; he flicked again, and again the bird dropped. Our sportsman then dismounted, pocketed the two birds, and took them home for the family pot; ' • He had to put up with a good deal of chaff from his friends and the local Press for his successful impromptu " battue." His prowess with the thong was no doubt akin to his skill as a dry-fly fisherman. He threw a wonderful line, and from an overgrown bank could put his lure over the nose of a wily Coln trout, lying under a bush a long way up-stream, and have him in the basket within a few minutes.
I hope if this catches his eye he will forgive me for recalling the " poaching " incident, which perhaps in maturer years he looks upon as one of those "strange unhappy far-off things" of his youth ; but his friends and admirers had lots of fun
out of it.—I am, Sir, &c., BEATRICE CURRA..N. 4 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W .1.
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