188 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



a broad view of the matter, I think this is not far 

 from the truth ; but the Border counties are well 

 sprinkled with them ; and though the red grouse is 

 now confined to the northern counties of England 

 Yorkshire is at the present time famous for its 

 grouse-moors England can fairly claim the bird at 

 present as one of her own. 



A well-set-up active figure comes up before me, 

 one of middle height. In his best days it would have 

 taken a good man to have withstood him. His 

 grey eyes even now are as keen as a hawk's. Older 

 than myself he is in years, but fully as active. On 

 the bonny brown moors I see him with his couple of 

 famous setters. The dogs find : they are a perfect 

 couple, and know their business well. Their mas- 

 ter draws up, the birds rise, October grouse going 

 away like the wind. His keen eyes glance along the 

 barrels, two reports ring out, and a couple of cock 

 grouse clap their wings together and fall stone-dead 

 on the heather. This is sport, the poetry of sport. 



The eagle, the peregrine, the harrier, and the gos- 

 hawk also the fox, wild cat, marten, and stoat, 

 all these kill the grouse when they have opportunity. 

 The vipers, too, that swarm on the moors, kill and 



