THE GROtJSE. 125 



They continue together in the greatest harmony till 

 the approach of spring, when they begin to feel the 

 access of genial desire; the males view each other 

 with a jealous eye, and furious battles are the conse- 

 quence. 



The care and stratagem of the hen for the security 

 of the young are wonderful. If she perceive a dog 

 approaching her brood, she will throw herself on the 

 ground directly before his nose, with dreadful scream- 

 ing, and manifest at the same time an apparently evi- 

 dent incapacity of flying. The dog eagerly pursues, 

 expecting every moment to catch her : but when she 

 has drawn him a sufficient distance from her treasure, 

 she puts forth her powers, and leaves her astonished 

 pursuer to follow her with his eyes, 



Grouse-shooting is very laborious, and requires both 

 judgement and experience, particularly in mountains 

 the sportsman is a stranger to. As the season is ge- 

 nerally very hot, it becomes highly necessary to be 

 clothed accordingly. The lighter the dress the bet- 

 ter, taking care at the same time to let the garments 

 next your skin chiefly consist of flannel. A flannel 

 shirt and drawers are the best things that can be 

 used for this purpose, and ought, in fact, to be con- 

 sidered as indispensably necessary. Flannel, though 

 so capable of administering* warmth, is, notwith- 



* I am aware that the word administering is not perfectly 

 philosophical, though it will convey the meaning, in this 

 place, perhaps the best. The fact is, flannel prevents the heat 

 of the body from escaping, or evaporating; and though what 



