GROUSE SHOOTING. 409 



RED GROUSE SHOOTING. 



In comparison with grouse shooting and deer 

 stalking, all the other sports of this country are 

 mere play. Never since the days of 



Nimrod the founder 



Of empire and chase, 

 Who made the woods wonder, 



And quake for their race,* 



has any sport been followed that requires greater 

 personal exertion. Grouse shooting is the sport 

 of all others exclusively British ; the partridge, 

 the pheasant, the black-cock, are widely dispersed 

 over other countries, but the red grouse is only 

 found on the British Islands. 



Many causes contribute to the popularity of 

 grouse shooting, amongst which may be enumerated 

 the following. It commences during the parlia- 

 mentary recess, and long vacation, the legislator's, 

 lawyer's, and collegian's holiday ; and it is no won- 

 der that, after being cooped up all summer, these, 

 or any other classes of society, should seek relaxa- 

 tion in the sports of the field. August is the 

 season when every one, from the peer to the shop- 

 keeper, who can afford the indulgence, either rusti- 

 cates or travels. In that month the casual tourist, 

 the laker, and the angler, are often in the North, 

 when the temptation to draw a trigger is irresist- 

 ible. Grouse shooting fascinates the young shooter 

 more than any other kind of sport, inasmuch as 

 the season commences with it. Partridge shooting 



* Byron. 



