THE PRESERVATION OF GAME. 301 



that dogs were quite superfluous, or shared in drives or battues 

 where often nearly half the killed and wounded, unretrieved 

 and unmarked, were left rotting around. 



When grouse have increased beyond the limit that a moor 

 can carry, no doubt the only remedy is to drive them. It 

 is not so clear, however, that "the skill required by the 

 driving sportsman is proportionally greater," or that " driving " 

 is the best method for killing down the old birds, as some 

 keen shots assert. Every sportsman knows that when packs 

 are tame, his first mark on the rise of birds ought to be the 

 old cock, although he is likely to be the furthest bird from 

 the gun. If by mischance or bungling the old sire manages 

 to escape the first few weeks of a season, he soon teaches his 

 young brood to take wing on the first signal of danger. A 

 good shot and thorough sportsman is therefore always detected 

 by the number of old birds found in his game-bag, so long 

 as packs sit to a point. A cock grouse at once proclaims 

 himself by his larger size and defiant crow, also by being 

 generally first to top the heather and catch the shooter's eye. 

 An experienced partridge-shot can also pick out the cock of the 

 covey with considerable certainty. 



In a previous chapter I have tried to lay down plain rules 

 how winter grouse may with care and caution be approached ; 

 but the general custom now is, when winged game grow shy 

 and fretful, for sportsmen to exchange dogs for beaters, and 

 so debar themselves from those finishing lessons in grouse- 

 shooting which wild birds alone can teach. 



All who prefer dogs to beaters are well aware that, when 

 the first cold weather has thickened and strengthened the 

 feathers of the birds, many of the old cock grouse, and some 

 even of the old hens, leave the young broods and lead lonely 

 lives until they pair in spring. These old birds prefer the 

 rougher ground and rank heather for day shelter, and by No- 

 vember become so tame as frequently to sit fairly for a point. 

 Only one very steady dog with excellent nose should be 



