34 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [CHAP. in. 



the worst shot, an easy chance of filling his bag. When the 

 weather is windy and rainy, the ptarmigan are frequently shy 

 and wild ; and when disturbed, instead of running about like 

 tame chickens, they fly rapidly off to some distance, either round 

 some shoulder of the mountain, or by crossing some precipitous 

 and rocky ravine get quite out of reach. The shooting these 

 birds should only be attempted on fine, calm days. The labour 

 of reaching the ground they inhabit is great, and it often re- 

 quires a firm foot and steady head to keep the sportsman out of 

 danger after he has got to the rocky and stony summit of the 

 mountain. In deer-stalking I have sometimes come amongst 

 large flocks of ptarmigan, who have run croaking close to me, 

 apparently conscious that my pursuit of nobler game would pre- 

 vent my firing at them. Once, on one of the highest mountains 

 of Scotland, a cold, wet mist suddenly came on. We heard the 

 ptarmigan near us in all directions, but could see nothing at a 

 greater distance than five or six yards. We were obliged to sit 

 down and wait for the mi>it to clear away, as we found ourselves 

 gradually getting entangled amongst loose rocks, which fre- 

 quently, on the slightest touch, rolled away from under our feet, 

 and we heard them dashing and bounding down the steep sides 

 of the mountain, sometimes appearing, from the noise they 

 made, to be dislodging and driving before them large quantities 

 of debris ; others seemed to bound in long leaps down the pre- 

 cipices, till we lost the sound far below us in the depths of the 

 corries. Not knowing our May in the least, we agreed to come 

 to a halt for a- short time, in hopes of some alteration in the 

 weather. Presently a change came over the appearance of the 

 mist, which settled in large fleecy masses below us, leaving us as 

 it were on an island in the midst of a snow-white sea, the blue 

 sky and bright sun above us without a cloud. As a light air 

 sprung up, the mist detached itself in loose masses, and by de- 

 grees drifted off the mountain side, affording us again a full view 

 of all around us. The magnificence of the scenery, looking 

 down from some of these mountain heights into the depths of 

 the rugged and steep ravines below, is often more splendid and 

 awfully beautiful than pen or pencil can describe ; and the effect 

 is often greatly increased by the contrast between some peaceful 

 and sparkling stream and green valley seen afar off', and the 



