GEOTTSE LOCALITIES.] 



SHOOTING, 



[BEEAKIXa DOGS = 



on his side, there is nothing like footing it, as 

 it keeps him independent in his movements 

 and rambles, improves his health, and exalts 

 his spirits, and enables him to enjoy his sport 

 with an intensity unknown to the pampered 

 body of the luxurious lounger. 



"We have already observed, that England, 

 Ireland, and Wales must yield the palm to 

 Scotland as a grousing country ; but there are 

 in "Wales considerable ranges of grousing 

 grounds ; and the Black mountains, which divide 

 the counties of Hereford and Brecknock, have 

 some good sporting localities. The country is 

 like the Highlands, wild and rugged, and the 

 sportsman will find some of the higher eleva- 

 tions laborious to reach. The only method, in 

 many cases, is to follow the rough paths of the 

 mountain torrents, which, being dry, afibrd a 

 kind of winding way to the highest grounds. 

 The picturesque beauty of the country is 

 beyond all description and praise, and must be 

 seen to be duly appreciated. 



In Ireland there are some tolerable hills, 

 but they are far behind Scotland, and even 

 some parts of Wales. In the counties of 

 Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary, in the vicinity 

 of the Galty mountains, there are both black 

 and red grouse, with a fair sprinkling of other 

 kinds of game. There is likewise a fair por- 

 tion of grouse in the Kerry, Wicklow, Clog- 

 heen, and Negagh mountains. The moor bird 

 shooting is not quite so fatiguing in the Eme- 

 rald Isle as it is in Scotland ; but the general 

 accommodation is superior in the latter coun- 

 try to that of the former. Ireland is, by some, 

 highly extolled for grouse shooting ; while 

 others speak very indifferently of its supplies 

 of this kind of game : but the truth will be 

 found to be, that in some well-preserved locali- 

 ties there is an abundance ; while in others, 

 which are equally prolific, there is a remarkable 

 Bcarcity, arising chiefly from poaching, and 

 indirect means taken to destroy them. In 

 travelling through this country, it has been 

 remarked that, wherever there is a numerous 

 and poor peasantry, game of all kinds is 

 scarce. It can easily be imagined how pre- 

 cious to a half-starved Irishman will a well- 

 stocked preserve of grouse be ; and how diffi- 

 cult it must prove for him to keep his hands 

 olf them, as a nice relish to his meal of 

 potatoes. 

 538 



The following remarks of Mr. Laseelles, on 

 the subject of breaking dogs to the moors, 

 and other points, are really so practically valu- 

 able, that, notwithstanding their length, we 

 cannot resist the temptation to quote them: 



" An English atmosphere," he observes, " is 

 generally much more favourable to this diver- 

 sion than a Highland one, as, from the innu- 

 merable lochs, and the immediate vicinity of the 

 ocean, the mountains are so concealed in the 

 vapours arising from them, as, at all times, to 

 render a day's sport extremely precarious. A 

 very little will soon cause a grouse to be- 

 come wild and uuassailable ; and the chance of 

 pursuing him to any advantage is very uncer- 

 tain, until, perhaps, in the middle of the day, 

 when the sun may establish a temporary influ- 

 ence. His habits are exceedingly regular, al- 

 ways taking his food and water at particular 

 times ; the latter at noon : he will then retire 

 to the sunny side of some bank, and, beneath 

 the cover of high heath, bask in all the de- 

 light of imagined security. If a good shot 

 suddenly come upon a brood in this situation, 

 he may, very frequently, annihilate the whole ; 

 for they will immediately separate in difterent 

 directions, and each bird will get up singly, so 

 that he has nothing to do but restrain the ar- 

 dour of his dogs, and in some measure, also, 

 that of himself. The impetuosity with which 

 many sportsmen, and young ones in particular, 

 travel over their ground, is one great reason 

 why they meet with so little game. They no 

 sooner find a brood, and gain one shot, than 

 they give up any idea of further pursuit, 

 without even marking the progress of their 

 flight, or that of an individual, which may, per- 

 haps, be induced to shorten or vary his, from 

 the infliction of a wound. Erom the circum- 

 stance of heath presenting so continued and 

 smooth a surface, and the little variation in 

 every object upon it, it is more difficult to 

 mark down a grouse with certainty than a par- 

 tridge; but, by following the course of hiiu 

 carefully with your eye, and afterwards trying 

 in that direction, you will seldom fail of gain- 

 ing his retreat. It should be a maxim with 

 all sportsmen, never to leave a yard of ground 

 untried which is likely to harbour a bird ; by this 

 means you will sooner learn the nature of game 

 of all descriptions, teacli your dogs a better 

 system of duty, and give yourself a very 



