SPOET OF BUTE. 153 



moor-edge bird has only dwarfed the old English 

 partridge, and somewhat darkened its feathers. 



Mire -snipes are pretty generally distributed 

 over the moorlands and waste ground of Bute, 

 and a good sprinkling of jacks are constant to 

 certain reedy plashes all through the winter. 

 When killed off, their vacancies are generally not 

 long in being supplied.* The boast of the island, 

 however, is the woodcock. Last season was 

 reckoned the worst woodcock year which the 

 natives remember, while the preceding one was 

 the best. Several of the shepherds assured me 

 that, in the winter of 1864-5, there was not one for 

 ten of the previous season, and yet, in comparison 



* An old Argyllshire sportsman assured me lately that no 

 retriever would carry a jack-snipe on account of their nauseous 

 taste, of which the dog had the full benefit from being able to 

 close its lips on the unsavoury morsel. Never having per- 

 ceived this disgust to " jacks " in my retriever, I gave him a 

 fair trial the first opportunity which occurred on my next 

 shooting-day. I dropped the jack a good way off, loaded, and 

 then desired the dog to fetch it. He carefully brought and 

 laid it down at my feet, with every appearance of satisfaction 

 and comfort. This is no doubt one of those retailed blunders 

 which may pass muster long enough from not being challenged 

 and proved false. 



