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SHOOTING. 



BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 



Black-game shooting commences on the 20th of 

 August, at which time the birds will suffer the 

 shooter to approach much nearer to them than will 

 the red grouse ; indeed, from that day until Sep- 

 tember, they lie very well, and are very easily 

 killed, except an old cock, which is shy at all sea- 

 sons. After the young ones have moulted, they 

 become wilder than the red birds, on the open com- 

 mon. They may be easily approached in a wood, 

 where they are sprung and shot like pheasants. 

 They are not met with at any great altitude, but 

 confine themselves chiefly to the valleys, the lesser 

 hills, and the base of the loftier mountains. They 

 do not frequent the central parts of large wastes so 

 much as those parts bordering on inclosed lands or 

 woods. Bed grouse recede where cultivation ad- 

 vances ; and they are consequently in a fair way 

 of being banished from England. As there is a 

 greater extent of ground congenial to black-game. 



