BIRDS OF THE MOORLAND 323 



of virtues which renders it the finest game-bird in 

 the world. 



Many attempts have been made to accHmatize the 

 Red Grouse in other countries. Years ago it was 

 introduced to Southern Sweden in districts corre- 

 sponding in latitude with Aberdeen, and more 

 recently large numbers were set free in the heather- 

 lands of Belgium and Germany. These efforts, 

 we are told, have been attended with some success, 

 but it is still questionable whether the species will 

 ever take root in lands other than those of its own 

 choice. Even within the limits of the British 

 Islands there are many localities which appear 

 altogether suited to its habits, but where, none the 

 less, all attempts at its establishment have failed. 

 The Red Grouse thrives in Lewis, Harris, North 

 and South L^ist, and even on the smaller islands 

 of the Hebridean group ; in the Orkneys, too, 

 remarkably fine birds are produced. But in the not 

 far distant Shetlands, islands possessing, it w'ould 

 seem, every advantage which the grouse naturally 

 seeks, it is not indigenous, and although the birds, 

 when introduced, appear to nest freely, the broods 

 gradually diminish, and at length finally disappear. 



The Red Grouse breeds very early; indeed, in 

 January the great packs appear to break up, and 

 isolated pairs may be seen together. It is said 

 that young birds almost able to fly have been found 

 in March. The nest is generally hidden in the 

 heather, although by no means always in the 

 densest tracts, and is formed of grass and stems of 

 ling, lined wath a few feathers. The eggs are 

 deeply suffused and blotched with umber-browm 



