AUG. GROUSE SHOOTINGS AND GROUSE, 279 



then I walk, killing what birds come in my way, and 

 after resting myself and dogs, I return by some 

 other route. Undoubtedly the way to kill the 

 greatest number of grouse is to hunt one certain 

 tract of ground closely and determinedly ; searching 

 every spot as if you were looking for a lost needle, 

 and not leaving a yard of heather untried. This is 

 the most killing system, as every practised grouse- 

 shooter knows ; but to me it is far less attractive 

 than a good stretch across a range of valley and 

 mountain, though attended with fewer shots. I am 

 also far more pleased by seeing a brace of good 

 dogs do their work well, and exhibiting all their 

 fine instinct and skill, than in toiling after twice the 

 number when hunted by a keeper, whose only plan 

 of breaking the poor animals in is to thrash them 

 until they are actually afraid to use half the wonder- 

 ful intellect which nature has given them. 



Although the 20th of August is the day appointed 

 for legal execution of the blackcock, yet in most 

 seasons the 1st of September would be quite soon 

 enough for the shooting to begin, as until the com- 

 mencement of September the young birds have 

 seldom acquired their strength or plumage, and can 

 be knocked down before the pointer's nose with a 

 stick almost as easily as shot ; indeed I have fi-e- 

 quently seen them caught in the hand. When in 



