GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 9 



In a country where there are few corn-fields, you may 

 get the best sport at old blackcocks by judiciously beat- 

 ing the plantations on the sides of the hills, especially if 

 there are birch and alder in them, the tender tops of 

 which form a great part of their winter food. They are 

 still more likely to frequent these belts if juniper-bushes 

 are near ; but great caution is necessary in beating 

 them. After quietly taking your station at the upper 

 side, send your man with an old and very steady pointer 

 to the under; keep about thirty yards in advance of 

 them : the man must remain outside the plantation, 

 striking the trees with a stick, and making all the noise 

 he can ; the pointer must not, if possible, range out of 

 his sight. You are thus pretty sure of the shot ; but if 

 your man beats through the belt, the birds are very 

 likely either to fly straight forward, or out at the under 

 side. Two brace of old cocks may be considered a good 

 day's sport. If the plantations are very large, beat by 

 sections in the same way. 



Even in w r oodcock shooting in large covers, more 

 harm than good is often done by a noisy set of beaters. 

 I never take more than one attendant, my retriever, and 

 an old pointer. When I get a point, I choose the most 

 open place, and send my man to strike the bush on the 

 opposite side ; employing my retriever to beat any very 

 thick cover near. This, however, he is not allowed to 

 do unless desired. Any man who adopts this plan, will 

 eventually be more successful than with beaters : more 



