162 WITH NATURE AND A CAMERA. 



of an ordinary " churchwarden " and six or seven 

 inches of stem, I would at any time undertake to 

 create such magic sounds as would effectually deceive 

 the most experienced gamekeeper, shepherd, or old 

 cock Grouse that ever crossed a moor. 



The great secret of successful "becking" is to 

 get on to the ground where it can be done before 

 the birds begin to stir in the morning, to keep 

 well out of sight, and to call creditably. 



As a rule, Grouse are very talkative, and come 

 well to call on frosty mornings between the first 

 peep of day and sunrise ; but directly the sun shows 

 its ruddy disc above the Eastern hills, they become 

 as silent as the grave. The fact is grace has been 

 said and breakfast begun. On some mornings when 

 conditions appear to be ideal the birds are almost 

 silent, and keep on flying restlessly to and fro, and 

 a wet day generally follows. Most poachers who 

 go "becking" prefer a misty to a frosty morning, 

 as the birds will come quite as well to their imitative 

 blandishments, and often continue to do so right up 

 till noon ; hiding is also easier, and the report of 

 a gun travels but little. 



On frosty mornings birds will fly long distances, 

 by stages, to answer a call, and I have brought 

 them so close that a shot would have blown them 

 to pieces. Hens often respond quite as well as 

 cocks. If the "becker" happens to start calling 

 close to a company of Grouse, an old male will run 

 up on to a "knowe" or other eminence, and if he 

 catches sight of his deceiver at once utters his 

 alarm-note of "Cock, cock, cock!" and flies away; 

 but if not, and he is bowled over, another and 

 another will in all probability run up and take his 

 place until four or five victims have been ac- 

 counted for. 



