PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING. 9 9 



the birds were discovered. I was now accompanied by a 

 friend from the south a very good shot, and particularly 

 anxious to see and bring down a ptarmigan. 



When we got to the foot of Ben Voirla, we found that 

 there were two packs on what is called the second top, and 

 were thus saved the trouble of scaling the highest. So, 

 taking two young farmers as guides, we reached the ground 

 after a stiff climb. On ranging one side of the mountain, 

 just as we were turning round to the other, the dogs ran into 

 a small pack, which jerked round an angle, and were out of 

 sight in a moment. I knew their flight would probably be a 

 short one, so began to look about with the utmost caution. 

 My friend, quite a novice in this sport, had no idea of finding 

 the game himself, and continued to hunt the dogs with great 

 assiduity. We happened to be pretty near together when 

 they again " poked up " a ptarmigan. Neither of us thought 

 of each other, or the ordinary rules of shooting, but fired at 

 once, and down came the bird. This was rather unsatisfac- 

 tory, as the " honour and glory " belonged to neither. How- 

 ever, we determined it should not happen again. I described 

 what places the birds were most likely to haunt, and cautioned 

 against trusting to the dogs, which were quite unaccustomed 

 to such ground ; but finding my companion preferred his own 

 plan, I left him, and commenced my slow and wary search. 

 At last I caught sight of a ptarmigan upon the very ridge of 

 the hill, about thirty yards above me. It was in the same 

 crouching attitude before described, and, had I attempted to 

 put it up, it would have dipped out of sight in an instant, 

 I was therefore obliged to shoot it sitting. But the moment 

 I fired, another flew straight over my head, his hoarse croak 

 proclaiming the cock of the pack ! I had a fair shot, and 

 down he dropped. The first I killed being a hen, they made 

 a capital pair for my collection. 



I was now very anxious that my brother sportsman should 

 have a good chance ; and, joining company, we reconnoitred 



