THE RED OIlOXrSE. iV> 



AVhen the young arc capable of flight, tlicy do not iinnicdiatoly sejDarate I'roiu tlic 

 parents, but still keep in their company, the old male being the leader of the party. 

 lie is now extremely watchful, and on the approacli of an enemy stretches up his neck 

 amidst the heather, and uttering a loud cackle of alarm, takes wing, foUov/cd by the 

 female and the brood ; their flight is low, and in a direct line to some distant cover. At 

 the close of the autumn, several broods often associate together, and remain in company 

 during the winter. Hence it is they ai'c called pac/,-s. 



Their natural enemies — the birds of prey — have been much thinned. The seasons 

 have been rendered milder in their haunts by the progress of cultivation in their vicinity ; 

 and the throwing of much of the country into sheep-walks has given them more repose 

 in the central highlands than when the glens abounded with human dwellings. Yet 

 still the boundaries of the moor-fowl have been circumscribed, and the pasturage of sheep 

 tends to destroy their favourite heather, which is the only good cover that they have, 

 both from the weather and their enemies. It is, therefore, probable that, with more 

 preservation than formerly, tlic numbers of these bii'ds are considei-ably diminished. 



2 F S! 



