248 SHOOTING THE GROUSE 



The glorious scenery which surrounds the haunts 

 of these beautiful .birds makes the pursuit of them 

 especially fascinating. The splendid air and brilliant 

 light, the panoramic view, the shifting cloud and mist, 

 the dizzy height and wondrous silence these weird 

 surroundings are so fine that we almost forget our 

 wish to slay the creatures that inhabit them, and pro- 

 bably few men have descended from the ptarmigan 

 hill in the evening without a pang of regret at 

 having carried their predatory instinct into these 

 picturesque solitudes. 



At first you cannot see the birds against the stones, 

 so closely do they resemble the pale grey rock, white 

 spa, and speckled moss which form their background ; 

 but presently they move and run before you, seeming 

 quite tame, but fifteen yards away. In another second 

 they are all in the air together, their white wings flash- 

 ing in the sun, they have doubled in a bunch along 

 the hill, and now, well separated from one another, are 

 sailing away at a terrific pace, while you sorrowfully 

 eject your empty and profitless cartridge cases. You 

 must advance upon them with the gun held ready, 

 almost up to the shoulder, and as they all turn toge- 

 ther, the killing moment, try and knock over a brace 

 cleverly, though the second bird will take you all you 

 know to stop. 



