112 GAME BIRDS AND SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



few stray birds contrived to eke out a precarious existence, 

 surrounded as they were by Kites, Eagles, and Foxes, 

 into stretches of heathery moorlands, where heavy bags 

 can now be obtained. 



Grouse, then, may be said to be to the Highland laird 

 the veritable golden goose, for such has become the esteem 

 and pleasure with which grouse-shooting is looked upon 

 by the " Sassenach," that immense tracts of country, the 

 right to shoot over which could once have been had for a 

 mere trifle, are now split up into several moors, each of 

 which may perhaps command a rent of four figures. 



During the raw and boisterous days of winter the 

 sportsman or naturalist, be he ever so keen, has but few 

 opportunities of observing the habits of this species. 

 Birds are no doubt quite as sensitive to the weather as 

 ourselves, and the beauty cast over their surroundings by 

 the genial warmth of the sunshine has as much influence 

 in causing them to be bright and cheerful as muggy and 

 wet weather has in making them dull and listless. It is 

 only during that rare climatic phenomenon, a really fine 

 winter's day, that the sportsman ever has a chance of 

 observing their habits and strange attitudes. He is then, 

 in all probability, sitting crouched in the wet behind a 

 shelter of sods and heather, and will have but a few 

 minutes to make his observations, for the first shot that is 

 fired along the line of guns will bring to an end the peace 

 and security of the little family-parties that are disporting 



*/ / -L J_ O 



themselves in the immediate foreground, and the thoughts 

 of the sportsman will have to be changed from peaceful 

 observation to sterner realities. Spring is therefore the 

 time for observation, and a man wishing to study the 



