The Confessions of a ^Poacher. 115 



it is not difficult to locate the crowing of the 

 moorbirds as they answer each other across the 

 heather. When this was done I would gain 

 a rough stone wall, and then, by imitating the 

 gurgling call-notes of cock or hen I could 

 bring up every grouse within hearing. Some- 

 times a dozen would be about me at one time. 

 Then the birds were picked off as they flew 

 over the knolls and braes, or as they boldly 

 stood on any eminence near. If this method 

 is deadly in early August, it is infinitely more 

 so during pairing time. Then, if time and 

 leisure be allowed, and the poacher is a 

 good " caller," almost every bird on a moor 

 may be bagged. 



The greatest number of grouse, and con- 

 sequently the best poaching, is to be had on 

 moors on which the heather is regularly burned. 

 Grouse love the shoots of ling which spring up 

 after burning, and the birds which feed upon this 

 invariably have the brightest plumage. On a 

 well-burnt moor the best poaching method is 

 by using a silk net. By watching for traces 

 during the day it is not difficult to detect 



