SHOOTING. 221 



until it is dark. When the weather is very dry, especially at 

 the beginning of the season, as soon as the sun becomes very 

 powerful, the scent is dissipated, and the dog's abilities are put 

 to the test to no purpose. In the middle of the day, partridgei 

 cease to feed or run, and place themselves by the side of some 

 sunny bank in order to bask. 



In general they have their separate feeding and sleeping 

 places ; but it frequently happens, that they remain all day or 



orer broken and boggy ground for some hours, sometimes nearly up to 

 my knees in ling, sometimes up to the ancles in dirt and water, bad 

 crossed a number of deep and yawning ravines, been once nearly 

 smothered in a bog, had ascended a number of steep hills, and was, in 

 fact, become completely fatigued, as well as severely mortified by a suc- 

 cession of unlooked-for disappointments* However, I had scarcely 

 seated myself, when the chattering of a grouse attracted my attention ; 

 I observed the bird approach ; I rose it was crossing me at the distance 

 of thirty or forty yards I fired it fell ! 1 ran to the spot with all the 

 eagerness of ardent expectation. I seized the prize with rapture- 

 viewed it with delight. I instantly felt a full flow of spirits my fatigue 

 had vanished, and I determined on continuing my range, regardless of 

 the fine clear spring, and my late intended refreshment. 



" The bird I killed was a fine old cock ; and, in the coure of some- 

 thing less than an hour, I succeeded in killing three other young, but 

 fine birds. My spirits were now raised to the highest pitch of exulta- 

 tion, and I felt confident that before night I should bag at least ten 

 brace. I did not, however, realize these sanguine expectations ; but, 

 with more than half the number, I quitted the mountains, at seven 

 o'clock, delighted, after all, with my day's diversion. 



" On the second day I commenced my operations with renewed vigour, 

 and was more fortunate than on the first. I had become, in some de- 

 gree, accustomed to the rising and flight of the game I could distin- 

 guish it better; I became, also, in some measure, familiar with the 

 mode of traversing the mountains j and, after spending a few more days 

 in this way, I returned home with this conviction, that grouse-shooting 

 is very laborious, but that it affords, at the same time, the finest diver- 

 sion in the world / " 



T3 



