DRESS AND ACCESSORIES. 25 



THE GUN FOR GROUSE SHOOTING. 



In the very early part of the season long shots do not often 

 occur, but afterwards they are the rule, and unless a gun hits 

 hard it is comparatively useless. Most men, therefore, 

 select a particularly hard-shooting gun for this kind of sport, 

 and if their strength is equal to the attendant weight, they 

 like a large bore, No. 12 being that generally chosen. 

 Whether it (or she as the gunniakers say) should be a 

 breech loader or a muzzle loader must depend upon the 

 comparative shooting of each, which we shall discuss in the 

 fourth book. It must be remarked that scattered grouse are 

 often met with, and consequently quick loading is an essential 

 to a good bag; but unless the gun is also a strong hitter, the 

 good quality is more than counterbalanced by this defect. 

 The question requires a long experience to decide it; but I 

 am persuaded, from the evidence of others who have tried 

 both, and from my own experiments, that on the whole the 

 breech loader will be found to be the more serviceable tool. 

 It would occupy too much space to go into my reasons for 

 this conclusion here, but they will be found at length in the 

 fourth book. The shot most useful in the month of August 

 is No. 6 ; afterwards, some people employ No. 5, or load one 

 barrel with No. 6 and the other with No. 5. 



DRESS AND ACCESSORIES. 



In choosing the dress for grousing, two things are especially 

 to be considered : First, what colour will least attract the 

 attention of the grouse 3 and, secondly, what material will 

 be most comfortable to the wearer ? It is found by experi- 

 ence that a mixed pattern (such as the plainer Scotch plaids), 

 will harmonize with the surrounding scenery, and on that 

 account is found to suit well. The heather pattern is also 

 especially recommended, being partly made up of the exact 

 colour of the blossom of that plant. Such are the best 

 colours, and this being settled, the only other requisite is the 

 texture of which the dress should be composed. I have 

 already remarked that the temperature of the moors is much 

 colder than that of more southerly and less exposed regions, 



