BLACK GROUSE. 157 



in a few of the more wild uncultivated parts ; in the New 

 Forest in Hampshire, Dartmoor, and Sedgemoor in Devon- 

 shire, and the heathy hills in Somersetshire, contiguous to the 

 latter. It is also found in Staffordshire, and in North Wales, 

 and again in the north of England." But it is more especially 

 in the north of Scotland that it seems to find an abode best 

 suited to its nature, although even there it undergoes the same 

 alternate protection and persecution as in other places, and 

 with its brethren the Red Grouse and Ptarmigan, is sold to 

 furnish a somewhat barbarous pastime to the " Southrons," 

 who now make their autumnal irruptions into the ancient land 

 of the Gael, with more security than in the days of Waverley 

 and Rob Roy. 



In autumn, the Black Grouse, from its habits and mode of 

 flight, falls an easy prey to the sportsman ; but in winter and 

 the early part of spring, it is shy and difficult to be procured. 

 As the males weigh from three to four pounds, and the females 

 about two, it ranks among the most important of our native 

 birds as an article of food. Its flesh is whiter than that of the 

 Red Grouse, especially the smaller pectoral muscles, which are 

 nearly as light-coloured as those of the Pheasant. The natural 

 enemies of the Black Grouse are foxes, polecats, and a few of 

 the larger rapacious birds, in particular the Golden Eagle and 

 Peregrine Falcon. It is alleged that in some districts, and 

 especially in the south-western parts of Scotland, great injury 

 is inflicted on the Black Grouse by the adders or vipers, which 

 abound on the heaths, and in the plantations, and which destroy 

 the eggs as well as the young birds. 



Like the polygamous, or rather promiscuously-breeding 

 quadrupeds, such as the Stag, the males separate from the 

 females and young, and during autumn and winter keep by 

 themselves in small flocks, living together in harmony. To- 

 wards the middle of spring they separate, quarrel whenever 

 they meet, and engage in desperate combats, in which several 

 individuals frequently join. So intent are they on this occu- 

 pation that a person may easily get near enough to shoot them. 

 At this season the supraocular space assumes a deeper red, and 

 the bird manifests much activity and vivacity, but the gloss of 



