192 THE KEEPERS BOOK 



will be on the other side of the march, and there is not 

 much use undertaking a mountaineering expedition to 

 find them, unless the wise course is followed of arrang- 

 ing with the neighbouring owner or tenant to shoot 

 ptarmigan on the same day. By so doing, the recog- 

 nised method of killing ptarmigan will be followed, that 

 is, by shooting in two parties. When the "tops" are 

 on the keeper's own ground, the two-party principle 

 enables him to get over the great difficulty of ptarmigan- 

 shooting, which lies in the fact that the coveys fly from 

 one " top " to another. If there is a single party, the 

 guns will have only one chance at the broods, unless 

 they descend again to the "plains " and make another 

 ascent to the other "top," which procedure is apt to 

 become monotonous, even to the most vigorous sports- 

 man. 



It goes without saying, that there is no use taking 

 out the guns on a misty day. In all forms of sport 

 where there is thick mist, there should be no firing, and 

 when on a fine day, the guns being on the " tops," mist 

 begins to collect, shooting should cease. On this 

 account it is to be recommended that in ptarmigan- 

 shooting the keeper and all the guns should each possess 

 a pocket-compass. This, together with the fact that 

 in all cases of difficulty one should follow the course of 

 streams, will do much to counteract the disagreeable 

 probability of being lost in the mist. 



It may be necessary for the keeper to remind the 

 young sportsman of the possible danger of not having 



