PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING. 105 



of the hill. This ground, blending into grass from heather, 

 was a favourite resort of stray deer from the Black Mount 

 Forest, so I took a resting survey, meaning to profit by it the 

 next opportunity. There were only, however, a few scattered 

 sheep on the sky-line, and a shepherd with his collie stealing 

 quietly down the glen. 



Not until the first shoulder of Ben Loy is surmounted can 

 the ptarmigan ground be said to begin. The green plant, as 

 necessary to the existence of white grouse as heather to the 

 red, then shoots up among the incessant rock and stone, 

 some heaped into shapeless masses, forming gloomy caverns, 

 but more often scattered regularly along the hill-face, like the 

 handiwork of some primeval giant. 



I had just loaded, and was about to release my dogs, when 

 from a crag above I detected two small heads peering down 

 at my proceedings. Glad that my four-footed pair were still 

 coupled, and feeling confident that no birds but those I was in 

 pursuit of would be found so high, I only waited to satisfy 

 myself by the motion of one of them that the two dark knobs 

 were birds' heads/when, taking sure marks, I stalked round 

 the rocks and came in on the opposite side. To my dismay, 

 a brace of golden plover, in happy security, were within twenty 

 yards of my gun-muzzle ! In place of stringing both sitting at 

 one shot, with a contemptuous jerk I set free the dogs, when 

 the plover flew screaming down the hill. 



& few moments proved the prudence of this forbearance, 

 whatever the motive ; for Bob the setter had scarcely taken one 

 sweep of the mountain-scaur, when he dropped into a dead set. 

 The pointer was also statue-like in a moment ; but ere I moved 

 a step, a pack of seven ptarmigan rose out of reach, and skirted 

 the bald hill-face straight forward. I was marking their course 

 when the eighth sprang up, but, taking the opposite direction, 

 crossed me a long side-chance. I fired ; but, if struck, the 

 rapid and determined flight round the steep angle of the cliffs 

 gave no encouragement to pursue. 



