SHOOTING. 213 



it is attended with much vexation, as the game will not suffer 

 the approach of either dog or sportsman ; the reason of which 

 is, that the heath being laden with wet the birds will not run, 

 but remain stationary, and take wing on the most distant alarm :* 

 when birds will run they may be approached, otherwise they are 

 extremely shy. 



Our diversion in the early part of the morning did not equal 

 our expectations, for numerous parties were scattered over the 

 mountains, and the ground on which we commenced operations 

 had been already ranged. Several ardent sportsmen had as- 

 cended the hills at midnight, ranging the summits of the moun- 

 tains in order to drive the birds into the valleys, and thus be en- 

 abled, the moment the dawn of day admitted sufficient gray light, 

 to commence their amusement at a distance from the fog, which 

 almost uniformly caps the summits of lofty hills at this time. 

 However, it was not broad day-light by any means, when a 

 solitary fine old cock cheered our spirits by his chattering, and 

 fell to rise no more. In every direction the heath was enlivened 

 by the ranging of dogs, an occasional whistle, and the almost 

 continual firing of guns. 



We had been led to believe that the breeding season having 

 been tolerably fine, grouse would be found in abundance ; and 

 this was strictly true ; but we felt the full effect of coming late 

 upon the ground, and for several hours met with nothing but 

 odd birds. I never recollect traversing grouse mountains where 

 the walking was more unpleasant, more irksome, or more fa- 

 tiguing. The birds were strong on the wing and wild, which 

 consequently rendered the pursuit much more laborious ; in 

 fact, the fatigue was excessive, and at eleven o'clock, we sat down 

 to dine beneath enormous masses of awfully projecting rock ; 



Contrary, however, to general rule, grouse will sometimes lie well 

 when the heath is wet, 



