SHOOTING. 207 



fatal consequences of which, when a person is in a violent per- 

 spiration, are well known. 



In bad weather, the birds will generally be found about midway 

 on the hills ; and in case of very bad weather, the butts of the 

 mountains are the places they resort to : but in fine weather they 

 will be found near the tops. 



Grouse go to water immediately after their morning flight, 

 which is the proper time to begin the day's diversion : from that 

 lime till the extreme heat of the day comes on, good sport may 

 be obtained ; as also from half past three till sun-set. Should the 

 sportsman, however, be inclined to continue in the dead time of 

 the day {which is from about eleven till three) let him be careful 

 to hunt all the deep cracks he meets with, as grouse frequently 

 creep in these to shelter themselves from the excessive heat of 

 the sun ; at this time also, they may frequently be found in 

 mossy places. 



In this diversion, be careful to give your dogs the wind, and 

 also to try the sides of the mountains which are most sheltered: 

 if it blows hard you will be certain to find the birds where the 

 heath is longest ; and when this unfortunately happens to be 

 the case, they generally take long flights, and these too, are for 

 the most part down the wind, which is the very reverse of what 

 most other fowls are known to do. 



On finding a pack of grouse, the old cock is generally the first 

 that makes his appearance, and the first to take wing : if he has 

 not been much disturbed, he will run out before the dogs, making 

 a chucking noise, and will frequently get up and challenge, without 

 seeming to testify any symptoms of fear for himself; but by this 

 he warns the hen and the poults, which immediately begin to run 

 and separate. The hen generally runs as far as she can from 

 you, in order to draw your attention off the poults; and if the 

 poults are strong enough to shift for themselves, she will some- 

 times make off altogether, in which case good diversion will gene- 



