GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 95 



together. They agreed pretty well ; and the grouse, being a 

 hen, hatched two successive seasons. The first year the whole 

 of this cross-breed died ; but the next, with great care, a couple 

 were reared. They were both cocks ; and, when come to their 

 full plumage in winter, were a blackish brown, something be- 

 tween the colour of a grouse and a black-cock. They were 

 presented by my late father to the Glasgow Museums, where 

 they may now be seen. I have given in the illustration an 

 accurate likeness of that in the College Museum. 



Before ending this subject, I may put gentlemen on their 

 guard against two ways of poaching grouse and black-game, I 

 believe not generally known. The first is, hunting the young 

 packs, before the moors open, with a very active terrier or col- 

 lie. If the dog understands the business, he will chop a great 

 many in a day. On a moor in Koxburghshire, I saw a sheep- 

 dog, accompanied by a young farmer, performing to admiration. 

 I had the curiosity to watch their proceedings, until I saw the 

 dog snap a young grouse quick as thought. The other plan is to 

 set traps, on the peat-stacks, or in the green springs where the 

 birds come to drink and to eat small insects. This last may 

 be continued all the season. We often hear that these traps 

 are set in the former case for hawks, and in the latter for car- 

 rion-crows. They may be, but any one who understands the 

 habits of grouse and black-game knows what birds they are 

 most likely to catch ; and if this way of destroying vermin is 

 persevered in by the keepers, " the laird " will soon begin to 

 find his grouse minus their legs. 



