GROUSE SHOOTING 



SHOOTING Grouse after Red Deer,' says Christopher 

 North, ' is for a while, at first, felt to be like writing 

 an anagram in a lady's album after having given 

 the finishing touch to a tragedy or epic poem.' 

 The genial Professor of Moral Philosophy included grouse 

 shooting among his Recreations, but in his old age he took a 

 hint from Daniel, who says : ' Upon the hills where a horse 

 can travel this is a noble diversion : to be undertaken other- 

 wise demands constant and hard labour, for the shooter is, 

 during the course of the day, ascending, that is, if he finds a 

 brood on the top of one eminence they will sweep over the 

 valley, until they reach the summit of another, up which the 

 sportsman has to climb : in pursuing these birds when the Dog 

 stands, should the Grous erect their heads and run it is a sign, 

 either from wet or some other cause, that they will not lie well 

 that day, and the Sportsman has small chance of getting a 

 shot, but by running and heading them.' 



' Grous ' shooting conducted on the principles indicated in 

 the last words would partake somewhat of the nature of hard 

 labour. 



I can find no description of grouse shooting earlier than that 

 given by Colonel Thornton, which refers to 1784.^ The Colonel 

 enjoyed his sport on terms very different from those which 

 grew up during the nineteenth century. He camped out where 

 he listed, flew his hawks, shot and fished where and when it 

 seemed good to him, without let or hindrance. If he asked 

 leave he does not mention the formality : for formality it was 



' A Sporting Tour. 



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