CH. XXXIV. START FOR THE MOUNTAINS. 219 



birds abound. The days, too, being short, and the 

 changes of weather frequent, the ptarmigan-shooter 

 must work carefully and quickly. 



Some few years back, when living in the north 

 of Scotland, I was anxious to get a few ptarmigan 

 in their beautiful winter plumage, which is as pure 

 a white as the snow itself. It was late in the 

 season, and the ground was covered with snow ; 

 but as there had been a few days' frost the walk- 

 ing was by 'no means bad ; so I determined to 

 start in spite of the cold and snow, and the grumb- 

 lings of old Donald, who had but little inclination 

 for the pursuit. 



Our plan was to reach a shepherd's house, 

 situated about ten or twelve miles — that is to 

 say, about four hours' easy walking — up the 

 course of the river ; there we were to sleep, and 

 to attack the ptarmigan on the following day — 

 the mountain where I expected to find them being 

 situated near the shepherd's house. At the first 

 break of day Donald and I left the house, accom- 

 panied by one quiet dog, whose personal inclina- 

 tions tended rather to otter-hunting and such like 

 pursuits than to grouse - shooting ; but his nose 

 was so good and his intelligence so great that in 

 cover-shooting and rough work he was invaluable. 

 Pointers would have been useless for ptarmigan in 



