98 PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING. 



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 

 common 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 my last expedition, in company with an English 

 friend, a short time 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 missing in good style ! not even a 

 feather dropped, to hang a peg upon for the exercise of 



