196 GUN, BOD, AND SADDLE. 



AMERICAN RUFFED GROUSE 

 AND PARTRIDGE. 



WITH but very few exceptions the grouse shooting 

 for years has been an utter failure. Last year the 

 results were the same, and we find ourselves thus 

 early looking forward distrustfully to the future, 

 hoping, but still doubting, that we shall ever again 

 enjoy the sport which was usually awarded to our 

 earlier experience. The grouse season for 1868 may 

 virtually be said to have terminated, yet we are only 

 commencing September, about three weeks' very in- 

 different shooting being all the reward the sportsman 

 has received in remuneration for keeping up a staff 

 of keepers, a large kennel, and, if not a proprietor, 

 paying a heavy rent for his moor, possibly not only 

 for one but for several seasons past. This is a dread- 

 ful state of affairs, enough to discourage the most 

 ardent, for although he has paid liberally, still no re- 

 turns can be obtained at all adequate to the outlay. 

 The journey to Scotland has been so much time thrown 



