118 GAME BIRDS. 



Bion," says Mr. Yarrell, "late in the spring of 1839, one party 

 shipped six thousand ptarmigans for London, two thousand for 

 Hull, and two thousand for Liverpool ; and at the end of February, 

 or very early in March, of the year 1840, one salesman in Leaden- 

 hall-market, received fifteen thousand ptarmigans that had been 

 consigned to him ; and during the same week, another salesman 

 received seven hundred capercalzies, and five hundred and sixty 

 black grouse." From Drannen, in Norway, in 1839, two thousand 

 dozen of ptarmigans were exported in one ship for London; sixty 

 thousand have been killed in a single parish, during the course of 

 the winter. The total of these birds destroyed throughout Norway 

 and Sweden, every season, we do not know, but it must be enor- 

 mous. Mr. Murphy, of William- street, Dublin, has, for a series 

 of years, been an annual importer of the Norwegian white grouse, 

 as well as the capercalzies, and black cock, some fine specimens 

 of which we have seen in his possession. 



It may not be out of place, to give a catalogue of some of the 

 articles necessary to a grouse-shooter's equipment, previous to his 

 starting for the moors: Dogs, fowling-piece, in case or bag; two 

 extra pivots, a pivot-pricker, pivot wrench, gun-rod or cleaner, a 

 small bottle of olive pil, some linen cloth and leather, powder- 

 flask, dram- flask, shot-belt, bird-bag, a canister of powder, a 

 quantity of shot, various sizes ; a few pair of woollen stockings, 

 strong laced boots, or strong shoes and gaiters, dark shooting 

 dress, copper caps and box, wadding, screw-turner, spring crank, 

 wadding-punch, shoe-oil, straps, collars, couples, and cords for 

 leading or tying up dogs, dog- whistle, dog-whip, a pocket-knife, 

 a pen-knife, some cord for tying up game, hampers, in which 

 grouse may be packed between layers of heath, sealing-wax and 

 seal, to mark birds when sent by coach or carrier, game certifi- 

 cate, card of permission or other authority to produce to the 

 game-keeper, sandwiches, cigars, soda powders, promethians, 

 brandy, &c. This memorandum may not suit every fancy ; some 

 will omit, and others add to the above ; it will, therefore, be for 

 the sportsman to ask himself, what he is likely to want, when on 

 the moors. Of course, the usual dressing and writing materials 

 will not be omitted. 



