SPORT OF BUTE. 147 



above is an unexaggerated statement of the grouse 

 sport that may be expected in Bute, with good 

 shooting, good walking, and good dogs. If any of 

 the three requisite Ions fail, of course the bag will 

 be proportionally diminished. 



I have never thought it worth while to take a 

 whole day at partridges, as all the arable land lies 

 in detached patches far apart from each other. 

 My plan has always been to divide the day 

 between black game and partridge. My first day 

 was on the furthest extremity of our shooting 

 beat. " September 14th. Had a low game day on 

 Skirles and the fields of Clochnabae. Bag con- 

 tained four and a half brace of partridges, two and 

 a half brace of black game, a grouse, three hares, 

 and a leveret." Two of the black game were old 

 cocks flying rapidly over my head at long distance. 

 This is generally counted a difficult shot, but it is 

 more properly a matter of calculation than diffi- 

 culty. I found this out when a lad shooting wild 

 ducks at evening flight. Whenever a paired duck 

 and drake flitted overhead, the male, who always 

 yields precedence, invariably dropped, while his 

 mate in advance was certain to escape. Acting on 



