94 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



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, how- 

 ever, he is not allowed to do unless desired. Any man who 

 adopts this plan will eventually be more successful than with 

 beaters. More birds may, of course, be put up when a number 

 of people are scouring the woods, but the shots will neither be 

 so many nor so fair. 



On no part of the island of Mull does grouse-shooting come 

 up to a fair average ; and although one may often get a good 

 day at black -game in the beginning of the season, they are 

 still far less plentiful than on the mainland, and soon seek 

 shelter in the tangled woods, where most of the shots are un- 

 satisfactory snaps. Towards the end of autumn these woods 

 and covers are much frequented by old black-cocks. If there 

 are many trees of any size among them, pretty fair chances 

 may be obtained by means of a slow, steady dog. When 

 scared by the dog, an old black-cock is very apt to take refuge 

 in the first tall tree, making a kind of coo, which may easily 

 betray his roost. The dog, meantime, patiently watches, and 

 so engrosses the attention of the bird as often to procure a 

 tolerable chance. It is a good deal like stalking capercailzie ; 

 and as morning and evening are the best times, one or two of 

 these shy birds may be bagged before beginning or after fin- 

 ishing a regular day's range in open ground. You require 

 a knowing dog, such as would make capital work against 

 wind by footing the birds. I have had dogs so thoroughly up 

 to this work as to make a steady point from the foot of the 

 birds, then circle round for the wind, and thus place the game 

 between themselves and me. A fair shot is the probable re- 

 sult of these clever tactics. 



Black-game and grouse are easily tamed ; ptarmigan, I be- 

 lieve, never. The keeper of the pheasantry at Eossdhu had 

 a black-cock, a grouse, a partridge, and a pheasant confined 



