EED GEOUSE.] 



SHOOTING, 



[bed GEOUSE. 



the hills and visit the cultivated grounds, and 

 •will even, sometimes, be found perched on the 

 tops of the labourers' dwellings. 



A bird of this kind ought to be a favourite 

 with maulvind — a favourite, we mean, apart 

 from any gastronomical pleasures its flesh may 

 afibrd. In hunting him, " the light air of the 

 early morning," says Sir William Jardine, 

 " and the free, open, almost unbounded pros- 

 pect, exhilarate the spirits ; while the boldness 

 of the game upon discovery, erectly uttering 

 his cry of warning to his brood — his vigorous, 

 lengthened flight, so as to create doubts of his 

 being again seen — carry with them a continua- 

 tion of excitement long after it ia satiated 

 with following the skulking black game, or 

 the more rural one of waking-up partridges. 

 But, independent of this claim upon the 

 sportsman, it has another. The red grouse is 

 exclusively confined to the British Islands, and 

 has never been found in any part of the 

 continent; and it would be much regretted, 

 if unlimited persecution, or want of preserva- 

 tion, should, in after years, exterminate the 

 bird so exclusively natural." 



The shooting of red grouse has been largely 

 handled by different writers ; and many minute 

 particulars, as well as contrary opinions, have 

 been laid before the public on the subject. 



Mr. Daniel informs us, that in shooting red 

 grouse, the old English spaniel or setter is 

 better adapted to follow the gun than the 

 smooth pointer. The former has a better 

 nose, and bis feet are defended by long hair 

 from the chafing efiects of the ling, which, in 

 dry weather, cuts like wire. Setters, also, 

 have the advantage of being generally of 

 higher metal than pointers, and exhibit more 

 zeal, and more untiring courage. They re- 

 quire, however, a plentiful supply of water; 

 and this is sometimes a great drawback to 

 their use during the very hot months of August 

 and September. Some gentlemen well skilled 

 in grouse-shooting, take the pointer in pref- 

 erence to any other kind of dog; so that, 

 perhaps, upon the whole, there may be a fair 

 balance of advantages accorded to each kind. 



Red grouse difter in numbers and in size, 

 according to the season. Wet, cold, un- 

 genial weather, not only retards the pairing of 

 the birds, but is likewise extremely prejudicial 

 to the hatching of the broods, which, in fine 

 531 



sunny days, take great delight in revelling 

 in the luxury of a pure atmosphere. When 

 they emerge from the shell, they assume, 

 among sportsmen, the name of cheepers ; and 

 when they advance to a more stately size, 

 they are called poults. They are to be found 

 on their feeding-grounds, both morning and 

 evening ; but when disturbed, seek out some 

 favourite spot of shelter, chiefly in those sec- 

 tions of the moors which abound with long 

 ling and roughish brushwood. 



The time of the year has considerable in- 

 fluence on the habits and movements of the 

 grouse. Frosty weather is favourable for their 

 capture, as they then seem very torpid and 

 lifeless. Wet and windy weather is not 

 favourable to the shooter. At such times the 

 birds leave the high grounds, and seek out 

 sheltered spots in some comparatively dry aud 

 secluded localities. Eed grouse generally be- 

 come very wild in the months of November 

 and December ; althougli, when the season is 

 favoui'able, some good days' sport may still be 

 obtained. The lower and sheltered grounds 

 are then the best places to find them ; for the 

 advancing season daily cuts off their resources 

 in food, and they are driven to seek provender 

 in lower and more cultivated grounds. 



In rising, grouse almost take a perpen- 

 dicular direction, and then fly in a straight 

 line, at an elevation of ten or twelve yards. 

 The exact moment to fire, is when they are just 

 about to change from the perpendicular to 

 the rectilinear direction. There is a sort of 

 pause in their flight, which is favourable to 

 the sportsman, when he can avail himself of 

 this movement. But this requii'es a quick 

 eye, and a good deal of practice. When red 

 grouse begin to associate in large num- 

 bers, as they invariably do about the end of 

 October, or the first or second week in 

 November, they are approached with consider- 

 able difiiculty ; for they post sentinel birds 

 to keep a look out, and it is a mere chance 

 if you can get within a hundred and fifty 

 yards of them. When the weather, however, 

 becomes, and continues long cold, this wild- 

 ness is considerably abated, aud they often 

 show themselves as tame as barn-door fowls. 



Colonel Hawker directs that, " for shooting 

 grouse, select a fine sunshiny day, from about 

 eight till five in August and September, aud 



