50 



usually so tame as to afford little or no sport. By 

 November, however, when they have gained both 

 strength and experience, it will, on most moors, 

 need hard work to fill a bag without having recourse 

 to driving. 



I have occasionally seen them during a severe 

 snowstorm at the end of the season so cut up by 

 the weather that they would sit huddled up in the 

 birch trees and allow themselves to be shot on 

 their perches, if anyone were inclined to take such 

 an unsportsmanlike advantage of them. 



On clear still mornings during the latter part 

 of the winter and early spring the oldest and finest 

 birds usually collect on some open spot just after 

 daybreak and go through a regular performance ; 

 but whether it be fighting or playing I am unable 

 to say. 



I have frequently watched them from a 

 distance ; but on one occasion, having noticed that 

 they had for a day or two held their meetings on 

 the brow of a hill where I could get a good hiding 

 place, I resolved to make an attempt to witness 

 the whole of their proceedings. 



Accordingly I arrived at the spot an hour 

 before daybreak, and, creeping into a regular nest 

 of rugs and plaids which the keepers arranged for 

 me, I was covered well over with dry heather and 

 brakes, and finally sprinkled with snow. 



I then sent the men away and quietly awaited 

 the performance. 



Almost simultaneously with the first streak of 

 light in the east I heard a rush of wings ; and an 

 old cock, passing within a few feet of my head, 

 settled on the open space about twenty yards in 

 front of me. 



For full ten minutes there were no other 

 arrivals, and I began to fear that another spot had 

 been chosen for that day's amusements. 



Suddenly three or four more appeared on the 



