62 
successful, or in fact unsuccessful flight. I may mention here 
that I was once walking on the banks of the river Orrin, when 
I rented Glenorrin and Glengowrie, in Argyl, and put up three 
grey hens, old birds, and stouter and larger far than red 
grouse. Down came a wild falcon, at the bird in the middle. 
I saw and heard the blow. The grey hen staggered on, leaving 
the usual tribute of feathers, behind her; up rose the falcon in 
the grand and stately style so few trained hawks can ever adopt 
or regain—so much do they lose by captivity ; over and down 
she came, and down fell the quarry as though she had had an 
ounce bullet through her. Down went my long rod, and off 
went I. My distant shout sent off this falcon, though I fully 
believe “Lady Jane” is ever well pleased, to see James 
or I come up, approves highly of shouting, and will at any 
moment leave a grouse and jump on the fist for the least bit 
of meat and sometimes for none at all. I took possession, 
somewhat meanly I trow, of the wild bird’s prey. This is what 
I found she had done to it: the three first ribs on one side, were 
cut clean through, and separated from the back bone, as by a 
chop with a heavy knife, and strong hand, and one talon had 
gone on and split the base of the skull, from which the brains 
exuded ! 
Later on in the season, when grouse are wild, and full- 
grown, fine, birds, say in October, the sport is the best. We 
then make a wide line of five or six men abreast, and eighty 
yards or more apart, the man bearing the hawk being usually 
in the centre. He casts her off, and directly she is aloft a 
whistle or hand wave, and wemove on. A dog ranges wide, but 
is not much attended to, as he seldom now gets much chance 
to point. Now is the time to see the grouse fly. Rising wild, 
and good at either cutting through a head wind, with driving 
wing, and close compact body, or careering down it, their 
pace is good. A Yorkshire keeper, seeing a hooded hawk for 
the first time with me, laughed the idea of her catching one to 
scorn. ‘She canna speed the buds,” quoth he; though she soon 
undeceived him as to this. Grouse are sure to be found sooner 
or later, for though sadly packed I have always plenty. The 
