AUG. GROUSE- SHOOTINGS AND GROUSE. 279 



fix on some burn, some cool and grassy spring, or 

 some hill summit which commands a fine view, as 

 the extremity of my day's excursion. To this point 

 then I walk, killing what birds come in my way, 

 and after resting myself and dogs, I return by some 

 other route. Undoubtedly the way to kill the 

 greatest number of grouse is to hunt one certain 

 tract of ground closely and determinedly; searching 

 every spot as if you were looking for a lost needle, 

 and not leaving a yard of heather untried. This is 

 the most killing system, as every practised grouse- 

 shooter knows ; but to me it is far less attractive 

 than a good stretch across a range of valley and 

 mountain, though attended with fewer shots. I am 

 also far more pleased by seeing a brace of good 

 dogs do their work well, and exhibiting all their 

 fine instinct and skill, than in toiling after twice the 

 number when hunted by a keeper, whose only plan 

 of breaking the poor animals in is to thrash them 

 until they are actually afraid to use half the won- 

 derful intellect which nature has given them. 



Although the 20 th of August is the day ap- 

 pointed for legal execution of the blackcock, yet in 

 most seasons the 1st of September would be quite 

 soon enough for the shooting to begin, as until the 

 commencement of September the young birds have 

 seldom acquired their strength or plumage, and can 



