GROUSE 199 



two coveys of squeakers second broods, to all 

 appearance ; and here we fall in with our poacher 

 of the morning. As we round the corner of a 

 knoll, three curlews come flying towards us, and, 

 contrary to the custom of these shy birds, keep 

 going round us in circles, close to the ground 

 and almost within gunshot ; and, sure enough, 

 behind them is the falcon, who sheers off when 

 he observes us, but does not go far off, if I 

 know anything of his habits. When, later, the 

 curlews fly off in the direction of Loch Crinan, 

 there is a rush of wings, and we see one of the 

 finest bits of wild hawking it was ever my pri- 

 vilege to witness. I have seen the falcon after 

 terns, ducks, and grouse, but I never saw any- 

 thing to equal that rapid flight after the curlew 

 one of which, alas ! succumbed at last, but 

 at such a distance that I could only just note 

 that the two joined and fell together. 



We now turn in the same direction as the 

 falcon flew, for, like the curlew, our home is 

 by the sea ; and at half-past six Duncan and 

 his ponies are despatched by a straight path to 

 Roodel Glen, where the keeper's cart is wait- 

 ing. He carries nearly thirty brace on his back ; 

 and we have added two or three more to the 

 bag, as well as a couple and a half of ducks, by 

 the time we reach the glen at seven o'clock. 

 Happily, the dogcart has been sent for us 

 a concession to my age and infirmities, as it 



