CAETING TO MOORGAME. 115 



lating contour. On high-lying black ground, it is difficult 

 from the nature of the hills to take a cart, and such places 

 are hardly worth the risk and labour of trying, as the birds 

 will seldom " cart " at all there — that is on the heights, for 

 they often do so very well on loiver black ground apparently 

 much the same in its physical features. Mixed ground is 

 always the best, provided it is not choked with bracken, 

 which prevents one seeing the birds ; but the capabilities of 

 any given locality can only be ascertained from actual practice. 

 The modus operandi is as follows : — The horse is led by the 

 keeper, the gun keeping close in behind him — i.e., alongside 

 the horse's near shoulder. Should there be two guns, the 

 best position for the second is at the tail of the cart, 

 whence he can shoot on either side. A single gun, however, 

 is preferable, as I will shortly show. When Grouse are 

 descried, both men should keep close in, and avoid presenting 

 a separate outline to the bird's view, and success is largely 

 dependent on the skilful handling of the horse. The 

 driver should not lead too directly upon the birds — rather 

 circling round them, and without appearing to notice them 

 at all. Of course not a word must then be spoken, or any 

 signs or conspicuous movements made, and it is imperative 

 never to stop the cart or to leave the horse's side — say to 

 pick up dead, or any other purpose. I repeat this to 

 emphasize its importance. Dead birds must be gathered 

 from alongside, and the approximate position of winged ones 

 may be marked by dropping a white handkerchief, so long 

 as fresh birds may be in sight — however distant. The 

 runners can be picked up afterwards {i.e., as soon as 

 operations in hand are concluded) by loosing the dog — an 

 old setter is the best — which is tethered under the cart, A 

 setter stands the " weather '' best, and an old dog is prefer- 

 able to a young one, inasmuch as the latter fights and 

 *' tews " itself on the chain till half suffocated, and panting 

 like a grampus. The sagacity developed in an old dog when 

 accustomed to this work is surprising, and one of the 

 charms of the sport. Immediately on being let go, he casts 

 away, alone, to leeward, and one after another " spots " the 

 cripples. One may still (provided any fresh birds remain in 



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