PTARMIGAN -SHOOTING. 121 



sight of man, who so seldom disturbs its craggy abode. 

 They are even so stupid that, if stones are thrown over the 

 pack, they will sometimes crouch down, in dread of their 

 more common enemy, the hawk $ and, bewildered at the 

 sound of the gun, suffer themselves to be massacred one by 

 one. This experiment, however, more often fails, when 

 they all take wing together at the first stone ; and far from 

 being so slow as many suppose, they are quite as rapid in 

 the air, or even more so, than grouse : they will also 

 sometimes take as long flights, although their more com- 

 mon way is to fly round the angle of a rock or precipice, 

 and immediately drop down. 



I cannot better describe ptarmigan-shooting than by 

 giving an account of the first day I ever enjoyed this 

 sport, of which I have a most perfect recollection, and also 

 of an expedition, in company with an English friend, some 

 years ago. 



When fresh from school, the first year I took out a 

 license I went on a grouse-shooting excursion soon after 

 the 12th of August. Having slept at the nearest farm- 

 house to the ground, I started at daybreak for the base of 

 " the mighty" Ben-Voirla, where, I had been told, grouse 

 were plentiful that year. My guide was the game- 

 preserver, a reclaimed poacher, who had as quick an eye for 

 a hare sitting, or a ptarmigan among the rocks, as ever 

 peered from under a shaggy brow. After about three 

 miles' very rough walking, we reached our destination. 

 With eager hope I uncoupled my dogs, who soon came to 

 a dead point ; off went both barrels it certainly was 



