HINTS ON GROUSE DRIVING. 155 



constant stream of birds which should be pouring 

 over the concealed firing party. 



If the slope of a hill be the battle ground, the 

 points on the low side should stand always erect and 

 in view, with extra standards planted in the ground 

 between the men, as a grouse, or grouse, having 

 made up his or their minds to break out down hill, 

 are very much more difficult to wean from their fixed 

 idea than those which may make the attempt in the 

 opposite direction i.e., those that have determined 

 to evade the threatened danger by flying " higher up 

 the mountain side ;" but if they catch sight of a 

 conspicuous line of flags from afar off, discretion may 

 take the part of valour, and the birds keep straight 

 on, as they should do, and which it is the aim and 

 object of all parties concerned to induce them to 

 stick to ; whereas the sudden and unexpected appear- 

 ance of a man with a flag, mysteriously springing, 

 without warning, from the heather, has such a strong 

 effect upon the mind of a grouse flying uphill, which 

 is not quite so easy to him as flying down or straight 

 forward, that he in most cases changes his mind, 

 goes on in the direction in which his natural inclina- 

 tion would lead him, and suffers accordingly. A 

 turner placed even behind the guns occasionally is 

 very valuable, but this only comes in by expe- 

 rience. But one important point to be remembered 

 is, that grouse which mean going up hill over a 

 ridge, will fly high, so affording more difficult, i.e.. 



