6o SHOOTING AND SALMON FISHING 



oblong evergreen leaves of the crowberry, mixed with a few 

 whole leaves of the blaberry. Those killed earljj in the day 

 have had their crops only partially filled, while those shot in 

 the afternoon have been brimful, and this even when deep 

 snow is on the hills ; for on steep faces there are always 

 snowslips — miniature avalanches, in fact — which leave their 

 food exposed, and in such spots on well-stocked grounds it is 

 not unusual to see fifty or sixty of these beautiful birds all 

 feeding together. It is of little or no use going after them on 

 stormy days. The wind is the great enemy to success, for if 

 high and cold, it will make the birds unapproachable, and, 

 rising out of shot, they will take long flights often right across 

 the valley, and so in a few minutes they will safely alight in 

 some sheltered spot, to reach which would take the pursuer 

 fully two hours' hard walking. If these birds can be seen to 

 settle it should be borne in mind they always run forward some 

 distance on alighting. On many of the high hills of the North 

 they are not plentiful, while even if a large stock be left, they 

 never increase in a proportionate degree, and the best bag we 

 have helped to fill was made at.Corrour on a bright, hot, still 

 day on the 2nd of September, 1881, when the late Mr. Henry 

 Spencer Lucy, his cousin, Mr. Charles Williams, and the 

 author killed twenty-two brace and forty-six white hares. But 

 far larger scores than this have been recorded, though we 

 believe that forty-eight brace is the highest. It is needless to 

 say they will mostly be found on the sheltered side of the hill, 

 but their haunts are often so steep and stony that it is not safe 

 to walk with the gun at full cock. In places of this sort and 

 with a good stock of birds, it is almost wiser, if out with but 

 one keeper, not to fire at those launching themselves into 

 space, and where it is evident a kill must drop the bird several 

 hundred feet ere it strike the ground. When gathered it will 

 generally be smashed and not worth taking home ; and with 

 only one keeper out, a little restraint of this sort will save the 

 loss of much time in waiting for him while he clambers down 



