"CROWQUILL", in his Berrow's Journal jottings for this week 100 years ago, revealed how the ladies of the nobility were actively helping denude the English countryside of its wildlife.

"When the rush to the North for the Twelth takes place, many titled ladies accompany their husbands and brothers to take an active share in shooting over the moors. The first lady who established the right to go out with the guns was, curiously, a Frenchwoman - the Comtesse de Paris. She was for many years, irrespective of her sex, accounted to be the best shot in the United Kingdom.

"The Duchess of Newcastle is an excellent shot, and disdains using anything that could be classed as a ladies' weapon - a 12-bore gun being her preference. She has shot big game in the Rocky Mountains, 'roughing it' very thoroughly, and, consequently, a tramp over the moors has no terrors for her.

"Miss Molyneux, when shooting over the moors belonging to The Mackintosh at Moy in Perthshire, was responsible for 52 out of the 257 brace bagged in a single day. The Duchess of Somerset too, is a crack shot and invariably accompanies the Duke on his shooting expeditions.

Small gun

"Princess Victor Dhuleep, the Countess of Dudley, the Duchess of Bedford and Mrs Arthur Sassoon are all excellent shots - in fact, the Duchess of Bedford is now one of the best lady shots in the country and uses a small gun especially made for her."