8 
PTARMIGAN. 
and the weather had turned thick and dark, we resolved to leave our search for nests tiU a finer day. Qa 
arriving at the fox-cairn and putting in the terriers, we found it hore no signs of having been used this season 
As it was now too late to try further, the dogs were coupled and we turned back. Not more than a hundred 
yards had been passed over, when hearing a scuffle behind, we turned round and saw a hen Ptarmi<>au 
struggling in the mouth of one of the terriers ; on shouting to the dog the bird flew away, none the worse 
excepting the loss of a few tail-feathers. It Avas evident the terrier had seized her on tlie nest, which contained 
seven eggs. He had luckily only succeeded in catcliing her tail, as the dog to which he was coupled was 
tugging in the opposite direction, and had most probably so saved the life of the bird. As I required the 
female in summer plumage, we retired to the shelter of a large rock about a couple of hundred yards 
distant to await the return of the bird to her nest. I then sent off one of the men to the pony for what 
Avas left of our eatables aud drinkables, and Ave made ourselves as comfortable in the lieaAy downpour as 
circumstances would permit. The head keeper Avho had joined us remarked lie had obsexwed our pony from 
the loAver cairn, and thinking Ave Avere from the Pwannoch side of the hill had come up to order us off the 
ground, entertaining a great antipathy to the people Avho marched with him in that direction, as they 
frequently came on his side of the hill and shot his hares and Ptarmigans. On the last occasion, he stated, they 
Avere encountered about half a mile over the march, and after informing them that he had no desire to afford 
another day’s shooting, had sternly walked aAAmy, refusing all manner of tempting liquors which had been 
pressed upon him. Poor old Sandy is gone, and I should he sorry to throAv doubt on any of his statements ; 
hut still I can scarcely credit the latter part of his story, as Sandy dearly loved his native inountain-deAV ! 
“ We had been rather more than an hour sitting under the shelter of the rock Avith all the doc's fathered 
round, when a collie, which had been lying within a yard of my feet, got up, shook the wet from his coat, 
and again laid doAvn, this time changing his position by about a foot. He noAv chose the broAAm hack of a 
female Ptarmigan to recline upon, which, causing a great flutter, startled the dog as much as the bird herself. 
On her flying off it Avas discovered she had been sitting on eight eggs. The nest aa'us within a couple of yards 
of the spot Avhere Ave had sat for more than an hour, and it was a wonder with so many dogs about that 
some of them had not stumbled on her sooner. As this bird had lost no feathers, I determined to obtain her 
instead of the one Avhich had been caught by the terrier. It was now getting late, so, after a parting glass, the 
fox-hunters left us and proceeded home, the head keeper kindly giving me liberty to shoot as many 
Ptarmigan (although, of course, out of season) as I required. His generosity was not so surprising when it 
was afterwards ascertained that Ave were at least half a mile on the ground of his Rannoch friend, to whom I 
am indebted for my specimens of Ptarmigan Avith nest and eggs ! It had now become so thick and dark that it 
Avas scarcely possible to see a gunshot ahead. In order to give the female a chance to return to her nest, I left 
the spot and Avent in search of a male. Though several were croaking in all directions, it was some time 
before I could get a sliot. At last a chance presented itself at a bird flying past ; but as he went on out of 
sight, though evidently hard hit, I was just looking out for another, Avhen Donald, the keeper, Avho AA’as some 
distance behind, shouted out that he had the bird. On retracing my steps I found it had fallen dead Avithiu a 
feAV feet of the spot where he stood. Then cautiously approaching the last nest, we discovered that the female 
had returned. She sat very close, and it Avas not till the keeper put down his hand and lifted her up, that she 
could be induced to fly. We next took the nest and eggs, and after securely packing the Avhole of the 
specimens, made our way hack to the spot Avhere the pony had been left. On our arrival the gillie pointed out 
the nest Ave Avere in search of after lunch. We had not examined the ground on Avhich the pony stood, 
and here the female had sat unmoved till she had been disturbed by one of the pannier-straps falling on her 
back Avhile the lunch AA’as being repacked. 
“ We had now over twelve or fourteen miles of rough travelling to get over before reaching the lodge. 
As the mist Avas so dense that it was impossible to see half a dozen yards before us, I was of opinion that it 
