32 SHOOTING AND SALMON FISHING 



6 hares, and 5 snipes, all to my own gun. I walked all day 

 to my points, and only once, and that was an accident, killed 

 two birds with one shot." 



"MoNziE Castle, 



"4/'/4 September, 1846. 

 "On the 2 1 St August over seven dogs I bagged 191 brace 

 of grouse, 24 hares, i blackcock, i snipe, i duck, and i rabbit 

 — in all 205 brace of game. The birds were very wild and 

 strong, and I consider this bag was fully equal to 300 brace 

 on the 1 2th August." 



There is also to be found a statement in print by 

 " Harkaway," that one year Monzie shot 222^ brace of grouse 

 in a day, the writer stating : — 



"He was told by Colonel Campbell's keeper, who handed 

 him his muzzle-loaders, that all these birds were killed to points 

 in the true old sporting way." 



Taking, however, Monzie's best day of 205 brace of game, 

 as vouched for in his own hand, and estimating that he was 

 twelve hours at work, exclusive of rests, this would be at the 

 rate of seventeen brace an hour all through the day — a really 

 wonderful performance ; and, after all, it is perhaps not so very 

 extraordinary it has never been beaten. 



Eat and drink sparingly at lunch time, and remember that 

 salt edibles, though very appetising, cause great thirst. If the 

 weather be hot and the shooter not fit, the temptation to take 

 a cup of water at every crystal spring will be very great, but 

 if resolutely resisted the thirst will go away by degrees. If 

 very hot and tired, then kneel at a spring, and, holding the 

 head well down, let the keeper take the cup of his flask — 

 it will usually be the biggest out — and pour cold water on 

 the nape of the tired one's neck ; and to those who have 

 not tried this, it can be strongly recommended as a wonderful 

 refresher and eye-clearer. 



