GROUSE AND PARTRIDGE 215 



game than the lowest crowned hat he could pro- 

 cure. The shade helped to conceal him. Of course, 

 he exposed himself as little as possible, advancing 

 in a bent attitude, and taking advantage of every 

 inequality that would afford him temporary con- 

 cealment. He approached from below, not, as in 

 the case of stalking, from above ; seeing that while 

 deer look down, and can be least readily surprised 

 in that direction, birds look up. Such devices 

 added zest to the enjoyment of one who was as 

 much a naturalist as a sportsman ; and took fully 

 as much interest in knowing the birds as in shoot- 

 ing them. After three hours of incessant tramping 

 up and down hill, in which mayhap he had only 

 prepared the ground; he chose some convenient 

 spot on the sunny side, commanding a view of 

 the picturesque lake underneath, for lunch. The 

 meal was light; experience had taught him the 

 lighter the better. The least alcoholic of drinks, 

 the most digestible of solids; enough only to 

 refresh ; and then to work again. 



Unlike those who crowd all their pleasures into 

 one day, and tire of grouse-shooting in a week, 

 he came home for a few hours to cool and rest ; 

 returning in the evening, when the sun had already 

 dipped down to the summit of the hills. And he 



