HOMES AND HAUNTS. 
Flying oft from ridge to hollow, 
With his mates on sounding pinions — 
Welcome sounds to eager sportsmen ! 
Meantime where the mountain summits, 
Covered o'er with snowy mantles, 
Pierce the sky, and spots of Terdure, 
Few and far between, seem islands 
In a sea of rolling billows, 
Dashing up their mingling foam-crosts. 
There the Ptarmigan — the White Grouse - 
Like in kind unto the Moorfowl, 
Dwells in solitudes sublimest ; 
Lonely dwells, where seldom cometh 
Foot of man ; where seldom echo 
Wakes to hear the mimic thunder 
Of the death-devoting barrel, 
'Mid the peaks reverberating, 
'Mid the glens and rocky hollows. 
All among the leafy woodlands, 
AVhen the trees have donned their richest 
Garniture, and fruitful autumn 
Maketh all things ripe and golden— 
Maketh all things rich and mellow ; 
There the Pheasant, with a splendid 
Dress, befitting such a season. 
Glides through ferny brakes and thickets, 
Crouches in the dells and dingles, 
'Mid the purple bells of foxgloves, 
'Mid the grasses tall and feathery ; 
Hiding from keen-scented pointers- — 
Foolish bird, all vainly hiding ! 
Earlier yet, the whirring covey, 
Startled from the juicy clover. 
Or the cornfield, where the poppies 
Stain the golden ear with scarlet ; 
Or the hedge bank, or the coppice — 
Scattered down the wind go flying ; 
Some to seek more distant covers ; 
Some to sink, with mottled plumage 
Specked with sanguine stains, and ruffled, 
Soon within the laden game-bag 
To be borne away in triumph. 
Earliest of the sportsman's trophies ! 
