GROUSE-BECKING 77 



consist of nets made of very fine twine, netted to a 

 three-inch mesh, which are suspended from poles 

 placed ten yards apart, at such a height as permits 

 the fellside sheep to pass under them. Each net in 

 a series is independently suspended on a cord stretched 

 across the poles, and can be hung tight or loose, as 

 desired. They are easily put up at least, I am 

 assured that two men can fix up a thousand yards of 

 nets in an hour. The nets are shifted according to 

 the direction of the wind. Grouse have generally a 

 favourite line of flight, but they do not always adhere 

 to the same course. When the birds are flying, there 

 is sure to be a leader in the company. This one strikes 

 the net almost to a certainty, and down it instantly 

 falls. The way in which these nets are worked is 

 very simple. Of course they could not be tolerated 

 on any gentleman's moor, but certain outsiders hire 

 small farms and allotments on the edge of grouse 

 moors, with a view to annexing their neighbours' 

 grouse. The birds themselves assist inadvertently 

 in their own capture. Their principal time for shift- 

 ing about is in the evening, after feeding, and again 

 after 'becking' in the morning. I'.ul they are par- 

 ticularly restless on many moors about the end of 

 September and in October, especially the female 

 birds, and the first strong gale brings many of them 



