124 OTTER HUNTING, FALCONRY, SHOOTING 



that I am now speaking only of the peregrine — and is in 

 a condition to fly game. We are on the moors, hoping 

 soon to fly and kill a grouse. This quarry, as a rule, we 

 attack only with the female bird — the ' falcon.' Yesterday 

 we took out the old pointer who has helped us on many 

 a day's game-hawking, but to-day we had only beaters- 

 and markers. What was our plan yesterday } This, put 

 shortly : — There were only two of us, and one falcon ; 

 our time was short, and the moor close to the house. 

 Old Don ranged well, but carefully ; a dead point — no 

 hare thai; grouse to a certainty. The hawk is cast off; 

 she rises in wide circles ; give her plenty of time : will 

 she get any higher ? No ; well then, put up the grouse. 

 Don knows his business, and up get the birds. Poor Don ! 

 every one complains thdt we have spoilt him for shooting. 

 The hawk, though high, was a considerable distance from 

 the rise, but she answered to the ringing shout, " ho-ha, 

 ha ! " and spun down upon the five birds which had 

 risen. The distance was too great, however, to admit of 

 her cutting one over at once ; the flight was something 

 like a stern chase. A ' put-in ' t We feared it, and it 

 was. In other words, the grouse had dashed into thick 

 cover. But she ' waits on ' well above them. We and the 

 dog rush on ; it is a considerable distance, but she is a 

 fairly patient bird. Up gets one of the grouse ; he is- 

 cut over at the first stoop, and the falconer, lifting the 

 grouse on his gloved hand, the hawk being on the quarry,, 

 lets his bird eat the head and neck, and some fresh and 



