THE GROUSE. 127 



hard day's grouse-shooting. It need scarcely be men- 

 tioned that the brandy flask is a very necessary ap- 

 pendage: to the bottom of which should be attached 

 a tin cup, which will enable the sportsman to allay 

 his thirst by mixing water with his brandy; rinsing 

 the mouth will perhaps be found occasionally to an- 

 swer the desired purpose. But on no account drink 

 cold water alone; the fatal consequences of which, 

 when a person is in a great perspiration, are well 

 known. 



There are some persons who take this diversion on 

 horseback, which, of course, very much lessens the 

 fatigue; and, for this purpose, galloways or ponies are 

 generally used, so trained that they stand very still 

 with the bridle laying on their backs, while the 

 sportsman takes aim and shoots. 



For grouse-shooting it is very necessary to consult 

 the barometer, as these birds can foresee the change 

 of the weather, and shift their ground accordingly. 

 When from the fall of the glass you expect bad wea- 

 ther, the birds will generally be found about midway 

 on the hills; and in case of very bad weather, the buts 

 of the mountains are the places they resort to: but 

 in fine weather they will be found near the tops. H* 

 in the morning you find them high, and in the even- 

 ing low, bad weather may he expected, except it is 

 for water they have descended, which is often the 

 case ; but of this the sportsman must form an opi- 

 nion for himself. 



These birds go to water immediately after their 



