TheGrouse.'i OF ORKNEY. 51 



ORDER III.— GALLINACEOUS. 

 GENUS r.— THE GROUSE. 



Gen. Char. — Bill convex, strong, and short ; a naked scarlet skin above each 

 eye ; nostrils small, and hid in the feathers ; tongue pointed at the end ; legs 

 strong, feathered to the toes, and sometimes to the nails ; the toes of those 

 with naked feet pectinated on each side. 



Species 1. — The Grouse. 



Red-game, Gorcock, or Moorcock, JVil. Orn. 177. Lagopus Altera, PUnii. Rail 

 Syn. Av. 54. Moorcock, or Moorfowl, Sib. Scot. l6. Brit. Zool. 204. 

 Brit.Zool. Illm. tab. 13. fern. 



Found in the hills of Hoy, Walls, Rousa, the hills called 

 the Hills of Ireland, Evee, Rendal, Holm, and in several 

 other moors through these islands ; pretty numerous in some 

 places, though not so much so as in the hills I have been ac- 

 quainted with in Scotland. 



Partridges were transported into this country some years 

 ago, and placed in Walls by the then proprietor, but I scarce 

 think they have come to any thing. I once saw one of them 

 which was shot (by mistake) in Hoy, which is about twelve 

 miles from the place where they were first placed, but never 

 heard of any other of the original colony, though it consist- 

 ed of several pairs, or of their offspring ; I suppose they had 

 been all destroyed by the ravenous birds, or wanted shelter to 

 breed in, as the nature of that bird is to hide amongst corn, 



