SHOOTING. 205 



whether the shot has moved. In discharging one barrel of a 

 double gun, the shot in the other will frequently be loosened, if 

 paper or any such pliable wadding be used ; but with card I 

 never knew this to happen, though I invariably examine with 

 the ram-rod, in the method above described, in order to avoid 

 every possible danger. 



Horses, where they can be used in shooting, no doubt dimm- 

 ish the fatigue ; and if birds fly straight forward, it is very easy 

 to shoot while on the saddle ; the same remark will apply if the 

 birds rise or fly to the left : but the case is very different if they 

 rise and make off on the right the horse's head must then be 

 instantly turned to that direction, or the game escapes. For 

 this purpose, ponies are used, which have been so accustomed 

 to the sport, as to be perfectly reconciled to the firing of a gun: 

 However, on many of the grouse mountains, riding is altogether 

 impracticable. 



On an excursion to the Highlands, the sportsman should 

 provide himself with a case, containing everything necessary, 

 not only to clean his fowling piece, but also to repair those parts 

 which are liable to become broken or out of order, such as break- 

 ing of the cock, main-spring, &c. as gunsmiths, or indeed any 

 person capable of doing these jobs, are seldom to be met with in 

 the Highlands of Scotland. On grouse shooting excursions in 

 general, similar preparations should be made. 



As to the colour of the shooter's dress, green is supposed to 

 be the best in the early part of the season, and when winter ap- 

 proaches, a kind of light brown, resembling stubble : this last 

 colour will be found to answer throughout the season; 



Grouse shooting is very laborious, and requires both judgment 

 and experience, particularly in mountains the sportsman is a 

 stranger to. As the season is frequently very hot, it becomes 

 highly necessary to be clothed accordingly. The lighter the 



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