xvi. GROUSE SHOOTING (PART!\ l INTRODUCTORY' 267 



rough ground to the same extent as a Scotch one ; 

 and which are, of course, natural hiding places for the 

 birds, and hindrances to their forming into packs by 

 running together. 



Still, I have no doubt that, were our English birds 

 as backward on the 12th as they are at that date in 

 Scotland, we should be able to obtain our share of 

 sport with pointers and setters. 



Driving grouse and shooting grouse over dogs are 

 two forms of sport that are determined by the 

 nature and locality of the different moors, and 

 the critics who imagine they can drive grouse or 

 shoot them over dogs according to which style of 

 sport they fancy most, will have to select their ground 

 in relation to their wishes. As an instance of this, 

 I remember a gentleman who attacked a Yorkshire 

 driving moor during the first week of the season 

 with as perfect a team of setters as existed, merely to 

 convince his friend, the proprietor, that driving was 

 not a necessity, the result being a complete and 

 acknowledged failure ! 



I also recollect how an acquaintance of mine made 

 an expedition to a moor in Scotland, taking with him 

 some first-rate Yorkshire keepers, adepts at 'driving,-' 

 to teach the ' Scots ' how to drive grouse, and at the 

 same time astonish them with the bags he intended 

 to make ; but, though the ground was level and the 

 birds numerous, the whole affair, after much trouble, 

 and the erection of numerous shelters, had to be 



