236 THE GROUSE 



past. But ere he has come to his stature 

 the tide has set southwards again from 

 the moors, and thus many who may 

 claim to have shot, or rather murdered, 

 blackgame in scores, really know nothing 

 at all of the wildest of our game-birds. 



Most sportsmen and lovers of nature 

 hailed with warm approval the introduc- 

 tion by Viscount Dalrymple into the 

 House of Commons last session, of a bill 

 to postpone the opening day of the black- 

 game season for a month ; but every one 

 is clamouring so loud for their rights 

 just now, that it is to be feared the 

 rights of the poor blackcock will be 

 overlooked. 



To be fair to all parties, the blackcock 

 should first be shot about the middle of 

 September, and he should go out of season 

 with the year. Blackgame stay on the 

 high moors till the beginning of October, 

 feeding on seeds, blaeberries, cranberries, 

 and various fruits of the moorland. But 

 once the corn is led on the arable lands 

 adjoining the moor, they leave the higher 



