24G WHD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



party of grouse to re-settle immediately after- some of 

 their companions have fallen to the gun, is intelligible 

 enough, albeit the premises are mistaken. Being still 

 doubtful of there being any offensive power in a cart, and 

 the report of the gun having been deadened by the rattling 

 and creaking of its wheels, they conclude that their late 

 friends had ascertained that the cause of alarm was baseless, 

 and had therefore lit again. Such conduct will so influence 

 every kind of game — even the biggest and the wildest. 

 Within my experience, similar mistakes have been made, 

 not only by wigeon and other wildfowl, but by big game, 

 such as eland and red deer. 



When a grouse (usually a single bird) finds the cart, 

 with its human adjuncts, nearer than he intended or cares 

 about, he will often sink from sight, squatting in the 

 heather. Nothing will then induce him to move, and 

 after circling round the spot, one detects him lying almost 

 at one's feet, motionless yet without fear. I say fearless, 

 for, when he eventually rises, he does so boldly and with 

 his loud challenging " bec-bec-bec " — indicating that his 

 chief sentiment is merely annoyance at being disturbed — 

 very different from the silent terror-stricken dash with 

 which a wounded bird (one that has realised the danger) 

 springs away from a close point. 



Charming pictures of the inner life of the grouse are 

 enjoyed as the lumbering cart manoeuvres around them — 

 their various poses and contours are infinite and interest- 

 ing. In fine dry weather, some are lying down, basking in 

 the midday sunshine ; with, perhaps, one wing and a leg 

 fully extended. Others are preening, or loitering about, 

 picking up a rush-seed or odd bits of gravel, to aid 

 digestion. Then one observes little amatory skirmishes 

 and reconciliations — this as early as mid-October. When 



