62 HAPPY HUNTING-GROUNDS 



the pointer or setter. But by September the grouse 

 we flushed were all strong fliers, very different from 

 the young coveys on the 1 2th of August ; and young 

 black game were really worth a shot. The infinite 

 possibilities of variety added to the excitement ; one 

 never knew whether duck or teal might not rise from 

 some reedy ditch or sheltered bay ; snipe were sure 

 to be found in any soft boggy place, and plovers, 

 rock-pigeons, and even at that early period an occa- 

 sional woodcock, probably bred in the island, had to 

 be reckoned with as possible items of the day's bag. 



