H2 BIRD LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



tain, sheep, or the melancholy whistle of a plover, whose 

 sharp eyes already perceived the advancing beaters. But the 

 sun was warm overhead, and our pipes smoked fragrantly, 

 so we waited with contentment for the battle to commence. 

 Presently a distant shout comes down to us, and the guns 

 all down the line are to be seen directly on the qui vive; 

 cartridges are hastily arranged, caps securely " crammed " 

 down on their wearers' heads, and all eyes are directed over 

 the wall to get a wider view of the plain in front ; and soon 

 the grouse come in sight on the far left of the line, giving 

 the last man one chance, and his gun immediately breaks 

 the silence of the hills, the white puff of smoke sailing away 

 over the heather to leeward. Then some blackgame go over 

 to the right under a regular fusilade from the batteries down 

 there, and it becomes obvious that though we cannot see them, 

 yet the beaters are all among the birds down the hill slope. 



Soon my turn comes, and I see R making signs to me 



under cover of his ambush and taking a peep at the moor in 

 front ; there is a large covey coming " dead " for my stand. 

 It is always an exciting moment, even to those who think 

 little of driving as a legitimate sport. The birds appeared 

 skimming lightly over the tops of the heather, seeming 

 almost stationary for some time though travelling at a great 

 pace, and little is to be seen of them but the head and 

 narrow edges of the outstretched wings. Another second 

 or two and they are within forty yards, and as my gun 

 speaks the foremost bird drops, the others going at such 

 a pace as on such near acquaintance as we are now seems 

 terrific, rise to clear the wall, passing overhead like meteors, 

 in another second are retreating over the heather behind 



the line. I fired again, K, fired, my brother fired, his bird 



coming down within a few feet of the stand occupied by 

 me ; and to our astonishment, when we thought it was all 

 over, " Uncle P.," far away down the line, also sent a couple 

 of charges of shot up in our direction, but without bagging 

 either men or grouse. 



