Their Eggs and Nests. 147 



and the female, Grey Hen, sometimes Brown Hen.— 

 Still found in some districts out of the north of 

 England, where wild and hilly forest still remains, but 

 of much more frequent occurrence in more northerly 

 localities. In fact, the gradual and very complete de- 

 molition of the last remains of what were once very 

 extensive forests has completely banished the Black 

 Grouse from places where it used to be common with- 

 in the memory of living men. It is a very handsome 

 bird, and like the Capercailly and the Pheasant, does 

 not pair. The hen makes a very slight nest on the 

 ground, and lays in it seven to nine or ten eggs, of a 

 somewhat less warm ground-shade than those last 

 named, but with larger and brighter-coloured spots 

 and blotches. — Fig. ^, plate VI. 



RED GROUSE— (Z^^^/?^j- Scoticus). 

 Red Ptarmigan, Red Game, Moor Game, Muir-fowl, 

 Moor-bird. — A beautiful bird indeed, and peculiar to 

 the British Islands. The Grouse moors, however, are 

 mainly confined to the northern counties of England 

 and Scotland. In the district in which this is written 

 the Grouse may be truly said to abound, and I hear 

 them continually from my garden or open window.^ 

 These birds do pair, and pair very early indeed more- 

 over. I have frequently seen them in pairs before the 

 season for killing them — which expires on December 

 10 — is fully out. If the weather becomes severe this 

 union often seems to be annulled ; but I don't think it 

 is in reality. In the earlier spring, when the pairing 



1 For a detailed series of observations on the habits, etc. , of the 

 Grouse, see '* Sketches in Natural History," RoutleUge & Co. 



