100 GAME BIRDS AND SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



being but very few places where more than fifteen or 

 twenty brace are ever got in a single day. 1 In Dumfries 

 and Roxburgh, and the Borders, good bags are still obtained, 

 and then they are driven with the beaters worked in 

 much the same manner as Grouse-driving, which needs no 

 description. AVhen being driven Blackgame will not split 

 up their packs to the same extent that Grouse do, and 

 consequently, should they stick to one line of flight, as 

 they often do, one man in a line of guns will have it all 

 his own way, while the others have to look on and inwardly 

 criticise his performance. Therefore, if only Blackgame 

 are being driven, and no chance of other game is expected, 

 the guns should properly be posted close together in certain 

 places where the birds will be sure to pass. 



In the early part of the shooting -season, to men 

 acquainted with their habits, there are few birds that can 

 more easily be poached than Blackgame. The poacher has 

 only to watch the line of flight of the hens and broods as 

 they retire to some secluded bank of rushes or peat-bogs 

 to pass the night, and with his net he can easily secure 

 the whole covey. In Scotland but little of this is done, 

 but in the North of England and the Border counties the 

 silk net is a good deal in use. Most of the poaching that 

 is done is carried on by labourers during the harvest time, 

 and in some of the Northern counties, were it not for 

 constant watching, it would become systematic. A snare 

 of small wire or horsehair is artfully fastened to the 

 ground, or to a stick concealed amidst the stooks, and 



1 In two days' covert-shooting in November 1889 at Guisachan, Lord 

 Tweedmouth's beautiful place in Koss-shire, 150 Blackcocks were killed 

 amongst other game. 



