File:Wild nature's ways (1903) (14770558453).jpg

Identifier: wildnaturesways00kear (find matches)
Title: Wild nature's ways
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Kearton, Richard, 1862-1928
Subjects: Birds Insects Natural history
Publisher: London, Paris, New York Melbourne, Cassell and company, limited
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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d not proceeded farbefore they observed the old man coming downfrom the hills. When they met him, they enquiredhow it was that he had changed his mind sospeedily. Well, replied the veteran, whenI got upon the moors and the grouse began toawake, they commenced to say, Birbcck, go back,go back, go back, and I thought as the very fowlsof the air had taken to giving me sensible advice,I would adopt it and return to my dear old wifeafter all. The red grouse is a bird capable of assimilatinga certain amount of education, as most modernsportsmen who have taken the trouble to studyits habits are aware. Some years ago I knew anold man who held absolute sway over a piece ofheather-clad property situated almost in themiddle of one of the best grouse moors in theworld. When the twelfth of August came round,he never fired a shot, but set thousands of finecopper-wire snares in the sheep tracks, knowingfull well that when his neighbours began to driveand shoot, the birds would be likely to fly on to
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HEN GROUSE SITTING ON HER NEST. 96 WILD NATURES WAYS. his property, thinking it to be a haven of rest,instead ot a veritable death-trap. This man toldme rather admiringly that ho had watched anold cock grouse run past and leap over no lessthan eighteen snares set in succession. The brooding moor-fowl:—as the bird is calledin many localities—is rather a close sitter. Twoyears ago, whilst in the North of England, Istarted out nest-hunting on the hills one morning,unhampered by photographic impedimenta, onaccount of the; unpromising character of theweather. In the afternoon I found a hen grousesitting on hei nest in an exc^^ptionally open place.The bird was so tame that she allowed me tostroke her back phiniage, and only clucked in asoft, motherly note when I ))ut my fmgers gentlybeneath her body. The skies had cleared, andhere was a chance of picture-making that raisedmy enthusiasm to boiling-point. Away I rushed,three long miles down the hills, for my cameraand plates. In due time

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