2 GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 



prehending his least signal, and always ready, when the 

 dogs point, to place himself so as to prevent the birds 

 taking a wrong direction. After having skirmished in 

 this way until about two or three o'clock, he may send 

 for a fresh couple of his oldest and most experienced 

 dogs, and, with the greatest care, begin to beat this 

 reserved ground. If the day is favourable, and he has 

 not strangely mismanaged, he ought to make bloody 

 work. Should his range be along the steep side of a 

 mountain, the birds are much less likely to leave the 

 ground; when raised, they will probably (unless he is 

 beating up and down the hill, which is neither an easy 

 nor good way) fly straight along the mountain side, 

 and the young grouse-shooter might suppose would drop 

 down upon a line with the place they rose from ; but no 

 such thing, the pack, after getting out of sight, before 

 lighting will take a turn, and fly a considerable way 

 either to the right or left. The sportsman must judge 

 by the wind, and other circumstances, which direction 

 they have taken ; but if he does not find them in the one, 

 he must try the other. Should he have the whole of a 

 detached hill, even if a small range, the birds are so un- 

 willing to leave it at the beginning of the season, that they 

 will often fly round and round until he has completely 

 broken them : no finer opportunity than this for filling 

 the bag. 



On some of our moors grouse are as plentiful as part- 

 ridge in the preserved turnip-fields of Norfolk : no man 



