344 THE HILL POACHER. 



chief objects are grouse, black game, and deer ; and, as 

 he dare not show his face on the moors while they are 

 crowded with sportsmen, at the beginning of the season, 

 he generally waits till the gentlemen " hae had their wull 

 o't." The birds are then wild and strong, and can only 

 be killed by means of traps or the gun. Comparatively 

 few are taken by the trap, so the poacher trusts to his skill 

 in eluding the watchers, if there are any, and sallies forth 

 with his dog and gun, in full enjoyment of the sport. 

 Many of these poachers are good shots, and some even 

 can boast a fairish dog. But, generally speaking, their 

 dog is none of the best, often only a colley or terrier, taught 

 to make an apology for a point. The dog's deficiencies, 

 however, are amply made up for by his master's knowledge 

 of the habits of the birds, of the places where they are 

 likely to be found, as well as to pitch after their flight. 

 Indeed, I should have no hesitation in backing one of these 

 fellows to procure more fair shots, at this time, with his 

 single mongrel, than many of our sporting gentlemen 

 with the best couple of pointers or setters he may possess. 

 But they seldom shoot in good style, except at deer ; and 

 the best of them, though thought paragons in the neigh- 

 bourhood, and boasting that, " gie them a bottle o' whisky 

 in their pocket, they will walk and shoot against ony man 

 in the kingdom," are as inferior to good shots among 



and as regardless scoundrels as could be met with. Now, however, in 

 place of little patches of barley on all the Highland crofts, good oats are 

 substituted, and not a twinkling fire, on the darkest night, is to be seen on 

 the islands of our lochs. We may thank the excise laws. 



