GUN FOR COMPANY. By E.C. Keith.

(1937) 1950 2nd edition. 4to (188 x 253mm). Pp207. Colour frontispiece and b/w illustrations by J.C. Harrison. Green cloth, spine titled in gilt.

"When I first saw this book in print there were many passages which I wished I might alter as it seemed in some I had been too emphatic and overstressed my meaning, and in others I had laboured a point too much. But now that the opportunity for revision occurs I feel no uge to re-write any of it; the intervening years have not caused me to change my views to any material extent; indeed, there are passages which I would like to emphasise - such as those on dangerous shooting, a malpractice which appears to be on the increase. A war has intervened. Many lads were snatched almost from school to take part in it, and some others found unexpected opportunities to try their unqualified hands at the sport. It is this short cut to the shooting field and the entire lack of any preliminary education which is so unfortunate and dangerous. Dare I say that there has been a deterioration in the standard of shooting? I am convinced that such is the case, and I would go farther and suggest that most of the best shots of to-day were born in the last century. This is mainly due to the hectic scramble for existence which has been life since the first World War.. ..And so time marches on. Pheasant rearing is a thing of the past, but does it matter very much? There will always be the wily cock of the woodlands and the little brown families of partridge to ornament the countryside". Chapters include: Shooting in general; The partridge year; The nesting season; Partridge driving; Days and ways with partridges; Longtails; Grouse shooting; The morning flight; The evening flight; Geese and shore shooting; An erratic wader; Lesser game; Vermin; Some dogs.