CHIEF LOCALITIES. POE GROUSE. 05 



lescription and praise, and must be seen to be duly apprc- 

 3iated. 



There are some fair shooting grounds in Ireland for grouse, but 

 they are far beliind Scotland, and even some parts of wales. In 

 the counties of Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary, in the vicinity of 

 the Galty mountains, there are both black and red grouse, \Yith. a 

 fair sprinkling of other kinds of game. There is likewise a fail 

 portion pi grouse in the Kerry, Wicklow, Clogheen, and Negagh 

 mountains._ The moor bird shooting is not quite so fatiguing "in 

 Ireland as in Scotland, but the general accommodation is superior 

 in the latter country to that of the forme-r. L-eland is highly 

 extolled by some sportsmen for grouse shooting, while others 

 speak very indiiferently of its supplies of this kin^ of game ; but 

 we beHeve that the truth will be found to be, that in some well 

 preserved localities there is a great abundance of them, while in 

 others, which are equally prolific, there is a remarkable scarcity, 

 arising chiefly from poachiug and indirect means taken to destroy 

 them. We have often, in travelling through this country, re- 

 marked that wherever there was a numerous and poor peasantry, 

 game of all kinds was scarce. We can easUy fancy how precious 

 ix) a half -starved Irishman would a well-stocked preserve of grouse 

 be ; and how difficult it would prove for Pat to keep his hands off 

 them, as a nice rehsli to his few scanty and half -rotten potatoes. 

 Legislators andmorahsts may talk till doomsday, before they 

 could make any impression under such circumstances. 



We shall make a remark or two on the best methods of preserv- 

 ing grouse after being shot. They have often to be transported to 

 a great distance, and it is of moment that they should be so packed 

 up as to keep them sweet and agreeable when they reach their des- 

 tination. This is certainly not now so highly essential a matter 

 as it was some years back^ because the railway transit is now so 

 expeditious, that birds, without almost any preparation, may be 

 sent in perfectly good order to the most distant part of the kingdom. 

 One sportsman recommends the taking out the entrails of the bird, 

 and then putting it in linen cloth ; and another cautions us against 

 this practice, and says we should let the inside alone, only wiping 

 the bird, and not pack it till quite dry. Bladders should be pro- 

 cured, and a brace or more should be placed in one, if it is large 

 enough, tie the bladder tight round the neck, and seal it with seal- 

 ing-wax, to prevent the air from getting in ; and in this state, if 

 placed in boxes, they will keep sound and useable for three weeks 

 or a month. Col. Hawker says, "to send grouse any distance, put 

 pepper to the parts where they have been shot, as well as into their 

 mouths, then pack them, carefully separated from each other, and, 

 ;kept as air tight as possible in boxes of hops." 



