SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF THE TWELFTH 159 



right past lying grouse ; while, if he also blames the scent, 

 he is quite innocent of his own ignorance in handling dogs. 



Grouse-shooting over dogs is essentially single-handed 

 work. No two guns can conceivably succeed, shooting 

 over the same dog or dogs. It is the pre-ordained failure 

 of every such attempt that is partially accountable for 

 the disfavour into which the hunting-dog has fallen on 

 the moors. Partridge-shooting over dogs with two or 

 three guns in line is simple enough : but on the moors the 

 problem is totally different. In the former case, among 

 the enclosed fields of the lowlands, mostly rectangular, 

 of small and defined sizes, and with a monotony of crop, 

 any part of which is as good as any other — since there 

 is no individuality in a turnip — the system of march- 

 ing, wheeling, and counter-marching serves well enough. 

 But, no such system can avail on wild moorland, un- 

 enclosed, irregular in form and in its likelihood, or 

 "smittleness" : and where individual judgment in direct- 

 ing the dogs is ceaselessly necessary, and the gunner's 

 immediate ideas and objects in view are ever changing. 

 The gunner must be absolutely free and unhampered in 

 following any new line that may suggest itself. To be 

 attached, as it were, to any second or third gun is as bad 

 as having a clog to his leg, and perpetually thwarts his 

 ability to seize each momentary advantage and oppor- 

 tunity. A man thus attached, has abandoned his 

 initiative — the one essential quality without which all 

 personal skill is paralysed. I wish to lay stress on this ; 

 since never, otherwise, can the pleasures of grouse-shooting 

 to dogs be truly realised. 



To walk up grouse in line and at same time to run 

 dogs, is to attempt two distinct systems which are essen- 

 tially incompatible — that is, with such dogs as I ever 



