RED GROUSE. 519 



In the year 1903, when the late spring frosts took place, and 

 the hills were covered with snow at the time the birds were 

 busy nesting, it was feared that numbers of eggs would be 

 spoilt by the frost, and on at least one large moor in North 

 Yorkshire the keepers were instructed to destroy all the 

 eggs found (under the mistaken impression that these would 

 be frozen), with disastrous results, as the second clutches 

 were small, and the birds late and not fit to shoot at the 

 commencement of the season. 



Young Grouse have been seen early in April ; Yarrell 

 mentions that a brood able to fly a little were seen on 5th 

 March 1794, on Pendle Hill, on Lord Ribblesdale's moors 

 (" British Birds," 1843, Vol. ii. p. 317 ; and 4th Ed. Vol. iii. 

 P- 75)- When the early nests have been destroyed late broods 

 are the result, and an instance is given of a hen being found 

 sitting on a nest of six eggs on Bingley Moor on 12th August. 

 There is a considerable variation in the size and colour of the 

 eggs, the ground colour normally being pale olive, with dark 

 brown, almost red, blotches all over them, some being quite 

 light in shade, whilst others are much darker. An egg little 

 larger than a Robin's was found in 1877 on Sykes Moor, 

 Bowland, and a clutch very dull in colour and quite abnormal, 

 except in size and shape, was found near Ripon. 



Grouse vary greatly in plumage, some varieties being much 

 lighter than others and more speckled ; in some districts the 

 hens are not only considerably smaller but are of a more 

 golden hue, resembling to a great extent the colouring of the 

 Golden Plover, and in Cleveland these birds are locally termed 

 " Moss Hens " or " Lancashire Duns " ; this peculiarity 

 has been noticed in Coverdale, Wensleydale, and in Upper 

 Teesdale, whilst on a moor near Harrogate packs of birds 

 are annually seen late in October which can be distinguished 

 from residents by their smaller size and more golden colouring. 

 Other variations from the normal plumage occur : birds 

 partially white were seen one season near Pateley Bridge, 

 and others similarly marked, some of which were shot, at 

 Whernside, whilst a pure white specimen was shot on Lady 

 Chaytor's moors at Caldbergh. A brood of cream coloured 



VOL. II. L 



