174 GAME BIRDS AXD SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



off at once, flying in a more scattered formation than 

 Grouse, unless the sportsman disturbs them up wind, 

 when they rise all together and generally " bunch " as 

 they turn, down or up wind, as the case may be, so that a 

 good shot can usually get a brace with his right barrel if 

 put in at the proper moment. It has always struck me as 

 being curious why Highlanders, who are always such good 

 sportsmen, should be so very keen on one's shooting at 

 Ptarmigan when sitting on the ground. Their idea is not 

 one of slaughter, for it has always been considered per- 

 fectly legitimate sport to do so ; but why these un- 

 fortunate birds should be killed in a manner no sportsman 

 would ever think of using towards Grouse or Partridges 

 certainly seems rather unfair, for it cannot possibly afford 

 any amusement to the shooter, yet nine stalkers out of 

 every ten, when the first covey of Ptarmigan are seen 

 sitting on the rocks, will try and induce you to fire at 

 them in. this barbarous manner. 



Owing to the wild nature of the ground which the 

 birds inhabit, there are not more than two or three places 

 in Scotland where driving is attempted or can be made at 

 all successful Gaick Forest is the best that I have heard 

 of. In 1886 as many as twenty-seven brace were killed 

 there in a single drive. Ptarmigan in flight travel at 

 much the same rate as Grouse, but their powers of ascend- 

 ing a stiff incline are very much greater ; this they will 

 do with as much apparent ease as if they were going- 

 straight ahead, and in passing over chasms and abysses 

 they often take sudden headers almost straight down-hill, 

 if they have made up their minds to strike for some 

 particular spot or to avoid guns ahead. 



