BIRDS OF THE MOORLAND 327 



Cumberland (a distance of twenty miles), where 

 they remain until the end of the season, and then 

 return to their own county. 



The Kettlesing moors, near Harrogate, are also 

 visited annually by packs of migrant Grouse which 

 differ altogether in type from the birds bred in the 

 locality. The strangers, indeed, can be recognized 

 at once, for (as in the case of the Alston birds) 

 the packs appear to consist entirely of hens, and 

 the birds are smaller and of a light golden hue, 

 differing conspicuously from those bred on the vast 

 heather-tracts for many miles around. 



As winter draws near the plumage of the Red 

 Grouse becomes very thick and warm, the feathers 

 " doubling " — that is, two plumes are found grow- 

 ing from each quill, the outer being the ordinary 

 coloured feather, and the inner lighter in hue and 

 of a soft, downy texture. 



As the eye rests on the rocky slope of the hill 

 below the fir trees, another moorland bird may be 

 made out. It flies swiftly from point to point, 

 alighting with uplifted wings upon some tussock or 

 heathery brae, and its clear, plaintive call-note, 

 " plu-e plu-e," falls sweetly on the ear. The cry of 

 the Golden Plover can never be mistaken, and as 

 it stands on the tussock, the variegated golden 

 yellow of the wings and the deep black of the breast 

 — the mark of the full breeding plumage — may be 

 easily distinguished. This change from the dull 

 winter garb of greyish white to conspicuous black 

 in spring is characteristic of the Grey Plover as 

 w^ell, and applies in a lesser degree to certain of the 



