30 VARIETIES OF SHOOTING. 



and when put up, flying slowly and heavily. The old cocks 

 are not with the young broods, being met with either singly 

 or in twos, threes, or fours together, according to the number 

 of black game on the moor. These last fly strong and fast, 

 and are seldom to be found a second time, if not bagged at 

 once, as their flight will generally be far out of bounds. 

 Later in the season, black game are very wild, and are 

 seldom to be killed on the open moors, small coverts near 

 cultivated ground, where they feed on the corn, being their 

 most likely haunts, especially if there are juniper trees in 

 them. In order to get shots at this time, these plantations 

 must be beaten towards the gun, who should be thirty or 

 forty yards in advance, and on the upper side. The beater 

 should keep outside and below, and sending in a couple of 

 steady spaniels, he should make a slight noise by tapping 

 the bushes, which will drive the game out on the shooter's 

 side. 



Both red grouse and Hack game may be driven as well 

 as stalked. In the former mode the sportsman conceals 

 himself behind a wall, a rock, or other similar covert by or 

 near which his game may be expected to fly ; then sending 

 the men round, they begin to beat the ground towards him, 

 the more experienced being very skilful in sending them ex- 

 actly in the direction of the shooter. This sport, however, 

 requires a quick eye and hand as well as great coolness, for these 

 birds fly with great velocity when fairly on the wing. Some 

 advantage may be gained by the shooter rising suddenly just 

 as the grouse is nearly over head, the abrupt view of his 

 person causing the latter to ascend, and thus stopping the 

 rapidity of flight, an easier shot is obtained. In stalking, the 

 grouse or black game are first discovered with the glass, and 

 then advantage is taken of every inequality of ground to 

 approach within shot, avoiding going down wind with the 

 greatest care. 



Retrieving grouse may be effected either by means of the 

 pointers or setters which are employed to find them, or by 

 special retrievers set apart and broken for the purpose. 

 The former plan is strongly advocated by Colonel Hutchin- 

 son, and is adopted by a great many grouse shooters; but I am 

 strongly of opinion that in all kinds of shooting where pointers 



