MIGRATION OF GROUSE. 



179 



murmuring sound, which appeared momentarily to 

 increase in volume. It was not unlike the noise that 

 might have arisen from a severe cannonade upon a 

 very distant beleaguered city. But there were no 

 cities here to be besieged, and if there were, the 

 land in which I was, did not nowadays suffer from 

 such disasters. More deep and intense became the 

 volume of sound, but I was awoke from my reverie 

 by my comrade urging me, to hurry and get shelter 

 behind a ruined cottage ere the storm burst upon us. 



The race was a long and hard one, trying alike to 

 wind and stamina, but we saved our stakes. A few 

 seconds after we had gained the lee of the sturdy 

 walls, the gale broke upon us, and terrific was its 

 effect. The heather seemed to prostrate itself level 

 with the ground to avoid its destruction, and far as 

 the eyes could see towards the Lammermuirs — which 

 was not much — the herbage looked to be undergoing 

 the same rough treatment. Thus far no snow had 

 fallen ; at length it put in an appearance, and, gradu- 

 ally increasing in quantity, closed in the surroundings 

 that were beyond twenty or thirty yards off. But 

 distinct from the roaring of the elements there was 

 another noise, broken now and again by intervals of 

 cessation. I asked its cause. The answer I received 

 was, " The muir-fowl are going south." " And \vhere 

 are they from ? " " The Pentlands, and may be from 

 across the Firth." I waited my chance, and fired into 

 the " brown of a flock " that were going past me with 

 the velocity of migrating water-fowl : two of their 

 number fell. They were grouse — veritable redgrouse. 



Now if these birds had come from the Pentland Hills, 

 as the crow flies, their flight before they reached our 

 position was over ten miles ; if from across the 

 Firth of Forth, a much greater distance. '* Where do 

 you expect they arc off to ? " I asked. The answer 

 was : " The shelters in Lauderdale," good seven 

 miles more. 



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