Il8 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



them to the moors, or they are particularly solicited 

 (as I have often been) to procure birds let them depend 

 on close-marking, tie up every dog but the steadiest 

 one, and quietly, patiently, and silently endeavour 

 to come within range of their object. If the bird moves, 

 then to out-flank him is the best chance. Take a con- 

 siderable circuit, and the more apparent carelessness 

 you show in striving to close with a wild grouse, the 

 more likely you will be to succeed. If the bird observes 

 any hurry in the approach of the shooter, he will take 

 alarm instantly, and an immediate flight will show 

 that he has been perfectly on the qui-vive. The peasants, 

 while looking after cattle and cutting peats upon the 

 hill, had frequently disturbed those solitary birds, 

 and concluded, from meeting them so often, that there 

 must be some packs convenient. 



Too late we found out our error ; it was four o'clock, 

 and we determined to abandon the heath for the day ; 

 and, having from a high ground examined the interior 

 of the island, we arranged to-morrow's beat accordingly. 



Quitting the hill, we walked for a mile along the beach 

 to some bent banks, where we were told that rabbits 

 were abundant. In an hour we shot eight pair, and two 

 couple of whimbrels ; and perceiving that the hooker 

 had anchored off the landing-place, we gave up shooting 

 and returned to the watch-house. 



In our absence the servants had been active ; they 

 slung our hammocks, and made the necessary prepara- 

 tions for cooking dinner. The chief officer of the coast- 

 guard kindly gave us his own apartment. His little 

 cabin was crowded with every necessary requisite for 

 one so far removed from the civilized portion of man- 

 kind, and it was amusing to remark the ingenuity with 



