2O The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



as there was always one bird or another ready to give 

 notice of any dreaded object approaching. Of the 

 manoeuvres and contrivances for outwitting the grouse 

 Mr. Robertson gives the following account : 



" The way of getting within shot was to creep on 

 hands and knees, keeping the stocks between you 

 and the birds as well as you could, till you were near 

 enough to shoot. If one of them got the least glimpse 

 of you, it would give the alarm note, one chuck or so, 

 for the others to be on the look-out. When the 

 danger became more visible, two or three chucks 

 were given, and when the bird was satisfied that the 

 danger was real, it would utter a rapid series of 

 chucks. Then not a moment was to be lost, if you 

 were at all within reach, for they were sure to be off 

 without further delay. 



" A common practice was to hide within a stook, or 

 to set the sheaves round one's self in such a position 

 as to afford the best view of the place to which 

 the grouse were most likely to come. This was best 

 done in the morning, as the birds came in before it 

 was quite light. On one occasion one of the neigh- 

 bours close by had concealed himself within a circle 

 of sheaves of corn. Another, coming stealthily up 

 for the same purpose, and seeing the top of the first 

 man's nightcap peeping out of the corn, thought it 

 was one of the grouse, and fired at it. Many of the 

 pellets went into the man's head and neck, but, as 

 the other had fired from a considerable distance, 

 fortunately no dangerous wounds were inflicted. 

 The sufferer, however, was never again found conceal- 

 ing himself in a cornfield. 



