The Game Act of 1773 established what has come to be known as “the Glorious 12th” in England. Not to be confused with Northern Ireland’s Glorious Twelfth in July, August’s Glorious 12th is the first day of hunting season of red grouse in England. Apparently this is a big deal.
The foregoing observations relative to partridges may be nearly as well applied to grouse shooting, when we recollect that Lord Strathmore’s keeper, in killing forty-three brace of muir-game before two o’clock in the afternoon, had only bagged three birds at eight in the morning…The chief difficulty to be guarded against in this delightful sport, is the maneuvre of the old cock, who is cackling forward, in order to lead you away from the brood.
Instructions to Young Sportsmen in All that Relates to Guns and Shooting – by Peter Hawker, 1844
The Glorious 12th has profound social implications for young ladies wishing to do a Kate Middleton.
Read about it here: http://gtgirl.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/the-glorious-12th-your-country-needs-you/