80 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



young packs by a constant succession of little brooks. It is 

 impossible for a stranger to find out these minutiae, without 

 questioning those who are in the habit of travelling the hill, 

 and who will be just as likely to know what is of more con- 

 sequence viz., where the packs are to be found in the greatest 

 abundance. 



As to the ground immediately round him, a man accustomed 

 to the moors can always tell whether it is likely to harbour 

 game ; and let him be ranging the top, the ridge, the brow, or 

 the flat at the foot of the hill, if he is surrounded by alternate 

 patches of old and young heather, interspersed with numerous 

 green mossy springs, or peat-hags half filled with water, he is 

 in full expectation of a point. If, on the contrary, the ground 

 is bare and the heather burnt, or if it be growing in one un- 

 varying crop of rank luxuriance, he looks anxiously for a 

 break, and almost grudges the unflagging exertions of his 

 persevering dogs. Still he never gives up hope, and often 

 finds game where he least expects it. 



When grouse are raised on the top or brow of a hill, the 

 flight is generally much shorter than when found on a level 

 at the foot. In the latter case, they generally fly far out of 

 sight ; but if the ground is hilly and uneven, they often take 

 a few dodging turns and drop down at no great distance. On 

 the steep peak of the heathery hill, I have seen them fly 

 quite round, and again settle not far from where they were 

 first discovered. In fine weather, before the packs are strong, 

 and especially before they have been much shot at, their 

 flights are usually not nearly so long as they are afterwards ; 

 but even then, should the day be windy, they are generally 

 rapid and uncertain. When this is unfortunately the case, 

 they are so capricious in the choice of their refuge as often to 

 baffle the most determined tramper of the moors. 



Grouse are much more difficult to find in the middle of the 

 day than in the morning and evening, when they move more 

 about ; but in sultry weather they lie quite still, except at 



