168 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



the squirrel through the tangled labyrinths of the 

 coppice and underwood. 



The red grouse was a favourite object of the 

 chace with Colonel Bonham. Sometimes it would 

 drop suddenly and take refuge in the heather, 

 when the falcon would abruptly check her pro- 

 gress, and ascend rapidly over the spot where the 

 bird had sought concealment. This in the lan- 

 guage of the craft is called ' making the point.' 

 When the falconer perceives this from a distance, 

 he hastens to the spot, and if the hawk be not 

 already thoroughly trained, he lures her down for 

 the purpose of accustoming her to that invaluable 

 aid, after which he has the opportunity of afford- 

 ing her a second flight ; but if an old or tho- 

 roughly broken falcon, he has only to start the 

 grouse from the heather while she waits on over- 

 head, and away she goes after it again. It not 

 unusually happens however that the poor grouse 

 is so scared and unnerved by the aerial movements 

 of its deadly foe, that it will suffer itself to be 

 captured under the very nose of the dog rather 

 than venture to take wing a second time. 



The best chance of escape for the grouse is 

 when he is sprung near the foot of a mountain, 

 and continues to work up hill, without deviating 

 considerably to the right or left. On such occa- 

 sions the falcon seldom succeeds in striking him 



