254 BIRDS. 



The nest is merely scratched in the earth. Eygs, 6 to lo, 

 2 inches ; yellowish white, with reddish-brown spots. 



The subject of the full-page plate, the Red Grouse (p. 69), 

 is, as already mentioned, peculiar to these islands, where it is 

 Bed practically restricted to the northern portions, 



Grouse, being commonest on the Scottish and York- 

 shire moors, and even extending to the Midlands, but not 

 as far south as the Thames. It seems widely distributed 

 in Ireland, but it does not thrive in the Shetlands. It is 

 closely allied to the Scandinavian Willow-grouse; indeed 

 the points of difference are somewhat slight. Another 

 bird not distantly related is the delicious little " Hazel- 

 hen," to eat which to perfection one must visit a restaur- 

 ant in its native country or in ISTorthern Germany in 

 autumn. It is one of the most delicate birds for the 

 table in Europe. In the grouse and its congener the 

 ptarmigan, the leg and foot are thickly feathered, and 

 the hind-toe is so short as to be almost obsolete. This 

 national bird passes its whole existence on the soft bleak 

 moors, nesting there and only going on short migrations 

 in very severe weather. It feeds on the sprouts of heather 

 and on corn, berries, and seeds. The dire disease to which 

 the grouse is liable has been the subject of public in- 

 quiries and of several books, but the mystery seems to 

 remain unsolved. Besides this remarkable ailment, this 

 bird is the host of a number of parasites, which have also 

 been specially studied by veterinary authorities. The red 

 grouse has all the little peculiarities of its tribe, the 

 vanities when in presence of the hens, and the singular 

 habit of burying itself in snow, also observed in the caper- 

 cailzie and ptarmigan. The nest is no more pretentious 

 than that of most game-birds. Eggs^ 7 to 10, 1 3^ inch; 

 pale coffee, with red blotches. 



The white Ptarmigan, sometimes seen in English^ poul- 

 terers' shops in early spring, is confined, so far as these 



