228 A PTAKM1GAN DAY. 



the remains of the scattered pack. The day was 

 wearing on ; having, however, two brace in the 

 bag, I sat down by a spring, and shared my crust 

 with the dogs in calm content. 



Ben Oss, which, although fully as steep and 

 rugged, is not nearly so high as Ben Loy, always 

 harbours a pack or two of white grouse, where, 

 from the nature and lie of the rocks, they are 

 both more easily found and followed. 



In order to spare my dogs unnecessary fatigue, 

 I kept them on the couple until well into the 

 ptarmigan feeding-ground; but just when I had 

 gained the southern ridge of the mountain, and 

 was about to commence the range, two beings came 

 suddenly into view, so ludicrously out of keeping 

 with the savage scene that the very dogs stared 

 at them with wonder. There they were in bright 

 scarlet, working amidst the desolation with their 

 instruments at the Government survey. When, 

 in reply to my query whether they had seen ptar- 

 migan, the Garibaldi apparition, with a decided 

 Berkshire accent, described a large pack of grouse 

 which they had "flushed among the 'eath," I 

 turned sharply round, and was off in a moment. 



