106 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



Situation and Localit/j. — On the ground, luidcr 

 tufts of dead bracken, brambles, heather, rushes, 

 and coarse grass. I have seen them quite exposed 

 in open pasture laud, and have known cows tread 

 upon and break their eggs in such situations. On 

 rough broken land containing heather, rushes, ling, 

 gorse, juniper, mixed woods and young plantations. 

 The bird breeds in suitable parts of England, 

 Wales, and Scotland, but not in Ireland. Our 

 illustration is from a photograph taken in the 

 Highlands of Scotland. 



Materials. — Dry grass, bents, fern or bracken 

 fronds, and other suitable materials at hand, form- 

 ing a scant lining to the selected hollow. 



Efign. — Five to ten ; yellowish-white to yellowish- 

 brown, irregularly spotted with smallish red-brown 

 spots. Size about '2"0 by I'-i in. Distinguished 

 from those of the Capercaillie by their smaller size. 



Time. — April, May, and June. 



Bemar'ks. — Eesident. Notes: male, a loud coo- 

 ing, followed by a hissing sound ; female's response 

 plaintive. Local and other names : Black Game, 

 Heath Cock, Black Cock, Heath Poult, Grey Hen 

 (female). Brown Hen (female). Sits closely. 



GROUSE, RED. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 sixteen inches. Beak short, curved downward, and 

 black. Irides hazel. A.bove the eye is a scarlet, 

 arched membrane. The dominating colour of the 

 head, neck, back, wing, and tail-coverts is reddish- 

 brown, speckled and barred with black. Wing and 

 tail-quills blackish-brown. Chin and tliroat rich 

 dark chestnut-brown, unspotted ; breast dark reddisli- 



