GROUSE SHOOTING. 27 



for the most part, all the year round. In frost and 

 snow they are occasionally found among the " stooks" 

 of oats, which, there, often lie out till Christmas. 



You are not to count on this wild momitain sport, 

 young shooter, as an achievement to be compassed 

 without earnest exertion ; what then ? — 



" Though sluggards deem it but a foolish chase, 

 And mai-vel men should quit their easy chair, 



The toilsome way, and long, long league to trace — 

 Oh ! there is sweetness in the mountain air. 



And life, which bloated ease can never hope to share !" 



As Byron says "never mind the pain," your delight 

 will "physic it;" which, according to Shakspere, 

 means, will ''cure it:" wherefore we take it " doc- 

 toring" was a very different affair a couple of cen- 

 turies ago from what it is now. Let your care be 

 for your dog and your gun. If you will take our 

 counsel, your dogs shall be pointers; and use all 

 zeal, and the experience of older heads than your 

 own, in their selection. Have a horror of near 

 rangers; they are the very woi-st of all for moor- 

 shooting. Of these — that is, pointers — hunt a 

 brace at a time, it will be quite enough. Before 

 bujnng your dogs see that they have round, hard 

 feet, and are well "hung" upon their legs, to 

 borrow an expression from the coach-makers vo- 

 cabulaiy. Above all, look to the head — "the Imow- 

 ledge-box," as it is vulgarly, but most aptly, called. It 

 oucfht to be broad between the ears, which should 

 hang down close, with a fall or dent under the eyes ; 



