194 ARDENMOHR. 



great stones, and patches of gorse ; while higher 

 up spread the larch woods, and beyond that, we 

 could see the dark edge of the pine forest that 

 extends far away on the other side of the hill. 



After a short survey of this new land we went 

 down hill, and crossed the burn as we best could, 

 and were presently on the open moor beyond. 

 The dogs found some coveys here, and still higher 

 up hill, where the juniper and fern afforded closer 

 cover, we hit off covey after covey, and had a 

 great deal of shooting ; but, after all, the pursuit 

 of black game, when young and half-feathered, is 

 but tame sport, as they sit so close that they must 

 almost be kicked up, while the old cocks are seldom 

 at home in these domestic parties, but are away 

 somewhere on their own selfish intents and purposes ; 

 still, two or three venerables were circumvented 

 higher up in the birch wood; but, on the whole, 

 even with plenty of shooting, the bagging of young 

 black game was pronounced to be unsatisfactory, 

 and we turned back for the grouse moors. It is 

 very different later in the season, when they are 

 in full feather, and strong and rapid in flight ; 

 then it is real excitement to have a pack of these 

 fine birds driven overhead, and to single out and 



