MANAGEMENT OP THE BEAT. 29 



on, a very different one must be adopted. It is very seldom 

 after the first month of grouse shooting that a shot can be 

 obtained until the covey or pack is broken, and hence it must 

 be marked and followed up with the greatest care to avoid 

 losing sight of it. At any moderate range say within fifty 

 or sixty yards the leading bird should be fired at, as, if it 

 drops, the pack are almost sure to disperse. In such a case, 

 the " gillie" must carefully mark down as many as he can, 

 and these should at once be followed up, even if the flight is 

 a long one, beating the ground towards them, so as to avoid 

 loss of time. At this season grouse almost always run before 

 the dog, and therefore when he points, unless the shooter is 

 in a line behind him, he should make for a spot considerably 

 in front of the dog, with both barrels of his gun cocked, so 

 as to get a quick " right and left." In this way single birds 

 will be picked up, and sometimes the whole covey will be 

 bagged one after another. Towards evening, grouse lie 

 better, and the scent also improves, so that good sport is 

 often met with at this time after a disappointing day. 



The number of dogs required by each party of shooters will 

 vary a good deal according to the nature of the dogs them- 

 selves, and to that of their masters, as well as the ground. 

 On the average, however, it is of little use to go to the moors 

 with less than three brace, as there are few dogs which will 

 work longer than half a day, and generally one will be lame 

 or sick. Where two or three guns beat in company, three 

 dogs will generally be required; but for one gun a brace is 

 sufficient, if they are good rangers ; sometimes a third dog 

 working close to the sportsman is an advantage, but he is 

 very apt to disturb the equanimity of the ranging dogs, who 

 become jealous of him, and think their master is paying 

 attention to another behind them. Six brace of average 

 dogs will not be at all too large a kennel to take to the 

 north by a party who intend to keep at their work day after 

 day, especially if they consist of pointers, which will not do 

 much more than half what will be accomplished by first-rate 

 setters. 



Black-game shooting early in the season is a very easy 

 affair, the hen and the young birds being then found in the 

 high grass or rushes near water, the latter lying very close, 



