RED GROUSE. 513 



the lower branches of trees. Large numbers have been 

 observed on the sea beach in the Cleveland district, and on 

 one occasion during a lengthened snowstorm a pack of several 

 hundred birds passed over ; these, however, were only present 

 when the tide was down, and as the water flowed they returned 

 to the moors. 



It is often found that in very mild, as well as in severe, 

 winters a partial and temporary migration takes place, as the 

 lower moors are sometimes full of birds that, it is known, 

 do not belong to the ground, and that shift their quarters 

 again later on ; frequently too a sheltered moor will attract 

 a big stock of birds in wild rough weather, but the stay 

 is only of a temporary nature. Birds also shift from the 

 low grounds to the tops in fine weather, returning again if 

 a change for the worse occurs. In the winter of 1878 several 

 were obtained at Redcar, and in December of that year 

 I passed within five yards of a hen Grouse feeding on a haw- 

 thorn bush behind the sand-hills ; in the severe winter of 

 1879-80 Grouse were seen at Oswaldkirk, near York, and 

 at Bridlington. In the storm of 1886, when heavy snow on 

 24th January was succeeded by a partial thaw, accompanied 

 by rain, and then followed by frost, large packs of birds came 

 down into the lowlands, and were noticed in lower Swaledale 

 and Wensleydale, Arthington, Weeton, Leeds, and other 

 places remote from their usual haunts, as man}^ as five hundred 

 being seen in one day ; numbers were killed by flying against 

 the telegraph wires, others were shot by pot-hunters, or died 

 of starvation, and many, doubtless, never returned to the 

 moors. 



In 1895 a state of weather similar to that in 1886 prevailed, 

 and many Grouse appeared in the vicinity of Harrogate and 

 lower Nidderdale. 



On the breaking up of the storm birds gradually work 

 back to their original quarters, although many seek fresh 

 ground, thereby providing a much needed change of blood, 

 to the ultimate advantage of the supply on the moors. 

 It has often followed that, despite the immense losses incurred 

 during a severe storm, when dead Grouse may be picked up 



