460 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



provided they can supply the facts, the proprietor may make his own deductions, 

 and in any case it is advisable that the keeper's estimates should be checked 

 by his master before they are acted on. 



While in England there is some excuse for lack of knowledge of shooting 

 prospects such ignorance is unpardonable in Scotland when the keeper can 

 run his dogs over the moor in July. 



When it is certain that a good season is at hand it is probable that not 

 only one moor will be good, but that all the neighbouring shootings will share in 

 the prosperity. It is therefore advisable to pay no attention to the wise men 

 who contend that frequent shooting will tend to drive the birds off the ground, 

 but rather to let shooting party succeed shooting party until the stock of birds 

 has been killed below the number which is generally left on the moor. 



How this is to be done so as to give the best sport and at the same time 

 the most satisfactory results now falls to be considered. 



To enter fully into the respective merits of shooting over dogs 



Methods of . J 



shooting and driving from the point of view of sport, is outside the province 



Grouse. 



of this Report. 



There will always be those to whom the working of dogs, the study 

 of nature, the finer arts of venery, and the quiet beauties of the moor will 

 provide two-thirds of a day's enjoyment. It is impossible to deny 

 the satisfaction gained from a pair of wide - ranging dogs perfectly 

 trained under a keeper who is thoroughly conversant with his moor, and able 

 to take advantage of every chance of wind or change of circumstance that the 

 day may bring forth. Although the shooting may not be difficult, the sur- 

 roundings, the assistance which each sportsman is able to give in manoeuvring 

 the Grouse, the chance shots which fall only to the alert, the feeling of satis- 

 faction afforded by each old cock that has been outwitted, the short rests, the 

 cool springs, and the cunning cuts from one point to another, all help to make 

 the day's sport difficult to equal, and impossible to beat. 



To those who are in the first flight of shots, who love organisation for its 

 own sake, and have the latter-day mania for big bags and pleasures 

 condensed into the shortest possible space of time, driving, on the 

 other hand, will always claim the first place. 



It will be readily admitted that there are few more exhilarating moments than 

 the beginning of the down-wind drive, the first half dozen birds neatly killed, 

 the nearest of them lying stone dead 50 yards behind the butts, the 



