24 ON THE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



as tenants is obvious ; whereas those who take the 

 shootings simply for the slaughter of game, whose 

 sole object is to be able to say that they have killed 

 so many brace during the season, are in the end 

 unprofitable customers. By killing the old birds the 

 true sportsman ensures a better stock, whilst the pot- 

 hunter who goes in for mere numbers does not kill 

 the old cocks, except by chance, and slaughters the 

 " cheepers/' or young birds, remorselessly. 



It would be useless for any other than a stout- 

 framed muscular man, with a strong heart, to expect 

 to shoot over such a moor as Rhidorach successfully. 

 In order to get at his birds he must fearlessly climb 

 the rugged mountainside, must not flinch from 

 walking over the rolling stones hidden by the dense 

 heather, or crossing the spongy morass, where, if he 

 is not careful in avoiding the light green spots, he will 

 probably find himself up to the hips in this treacherous 

 ground, cooling his heels unwittingly in the hidden 

 spring which trickles down the hillside, and swells 

 the rushing stream of the burn that meanders through 

 the beautiful valley. There can be no greater treat to 

 a sportsman than to have the opportunity of witnessing 

 the skilful working of dogs by a clever hand. For 

 Highland shooting nothing can compare with the 

 black- and-tan Gordon setters, for they are hardy, 

 capable of standing any amount of work, and equal 

 to living through the cruel cold winters of this latitude 

 better than any other class of dogs. 



The marvellous sagacity of these highly-trained 

 animals is seen when Flora and Rap, two of this 

 breed, are observed at work. At the wave of the 

 keeper's hand, each dog instantly leaves his heels and 



