14 GAME BIRDS AND SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



on the ground, or when sitting in a tree, is carried out in a 

 slow and deliberate manner ; hurry does not seem to be any 

 part of their composition. Should you suddenly come under 

 a fir-tree on which there is one sitting, he will take a good 

 look at you with his neck stretched out, as if wondering 

 what you were disturbing him for at that time of day of 

 all others — ^just when he was taking his dinner, too ! he 

 will shamble up the branch, push out of his way the 

 branches which would obstruct his flight, and deliberately 

 throw himself clear, dropping like a Cormorant, till the air 

 has inflated his wings sufliciently to carry him away. 

 So, too, one cannot help admiring the delightful sang- 

 froid which he will sometimes display when, after falling 

 head over heels into an open field, he slowly gets up and 

 proceeds to shake himself, after which he will perhaps 

 have a look round at things in general and then at himself 

 in particular, as if to ascertain whether it was any fault 

 on his part that had occasioned the unforeseen accident and 

 soiled his best and only coat. Then he will discover that 

 his wing is dragging on the ground and is useless ; where- 

 upon his natural instinct will lead him to make himself as 

 scarce as possible, which he will accordingly do by stroll- 

 ing in a cool, leisurely manner to the nearest furrow, and 

 squatting therein, where the poor bird soon breathes his last ! 

 In places where the Capers are much shot, one but 

 seldom has opportunities of observing them in anything 

 like fairness ; for once danger is known by them to be on 

 foot, there are few birds that understand how to look after 

 themselves better than the cock of the woods. Occasion- 

 ally one will surprise them in trees, and then one has a 

 good opportunity of observing their movements and habits 



