170 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



nature of grouse shooting. Nothing can be done 

 without active and well broken dogs, experienced 

 markers, and downright hard fagging. 



Perhaps you commence operations by beating a 

 large barley or oat-stubble a sure find during the 

 early morning having previously placed a couple 

 of markers on the hills on either side, so as to 

 command a view over the main valley and the lesser 

 combes. The partridges seldom lie well in the stub- 

 bles, but springing before the dogs can obtain apoint, 

 fly over the nearest brow, and drop either in a pro- 

 mising clover field, or perhaps in a " shaw"* higher 

 up the hill. Two guns enjoy this sport to perfec- 

 tion. Separating at one end of the plantation, tak- 

 ing up the pointers, and putting a couple of steady 

 old spaniels into the cover, the birds are frequently 

 flushed one by one, and, as they spring screaming 

 from the brushwood, fly rapidly forward, or dash 

 hurriedly over the heads of either of the shooters. 



Then, when some wild and almost unapproach- 



* Shaw, (Scua, Saxon) ; a long narrow strip of wood or 

 copse, suffered to remain as a fence, or division between 

 two fields. On the richer soils, where the modern system 

 of farming prevails, these primitive but beautiful fences are, 

 I am sorry to say, being grubbed up every day, while in 

 the greater portion of the weald they still exist, affording at 

 once a harbour for game and the best shelter for cattle dur- 

 ing stormy weather. 



