BROWN PTARMIGAN. 181 



vity, it sails at intervals, that is, proceeds for a short time with 

 expanded and apparently motionless wings. Its flight is strong, 

 and often protracted to a considerable distance. 



When disturbed while feeding, the male often boldly starts 

 lip and utters a loud cackle, which may be imitated by quickly 

 repeating the syllable hok^ with a deep voice. In spring and 

 summer they are often heard uttering the same sound without 

 being disturbed, whether as a call of defiance to their fellows, 

 or of warning or protection to their mates or young. Early in 

 the morning, as well as late in the evening, but also occasion- 

 ally through the day, you may hear on the moors a loud cry, 

 w^hich is easily syllabled into go^ go^ go^ go^ go-hack^ go-hack^ 

 although the Celts naturally imagining the moor-cock to speak 

 Gaelic, interpret it as signifying co, co^ co^ co^ mo-chlaidh^ mo- 

 cMaidh — that is, who^ who (goes there V) my sv/ord, my sword ! 



Mr. William Hogg, Stobo-hope, Peebles-shire, has kindly 

 furnished me with the following observations relative to this 

 species. " The Common Grouse is a hardy fowl, peculiar, as 

 every body knows, to tracts covered with heath ; that gene- 

 rous shrub affording it by its thick bushy growth shelter from 

 storms, and by its brown colour concealing it from its numerous 

 enemies, while its tender shoots supply the principal part of 

 its food. Although these birds feed upon the spontaneous pro- 

 duce of the moors, they eat corn to excess if it be growing in 

 the neighbourhood of their haunts, as I have had an opportu- 

 nity of knowing from my own observation. Sir James Mont- 

 gomery sowed a field which had recently been taken in from 

 their original range. I think they did not visit it until after 

 it was cut ; but then, every morning until it was carried home, 

 when all was quiet, groups of them were busy on the stooks, 

 eating voraciously of the ripe grain. One of the shooting par- 

 ties told me that the fowls which were shot in the neighbour- 

 hood of the field, were the plumpest and fattest of any which 

 they killed. The field was immediately laid out to grass, and 

 I am certain that the fowls which escaped and remained never 

 ate corn after, as they had never done before. During the 

 time of their incubation, the Carrion Crow makes dreadful 

 havock among their eggs, and young broods. However impro- 



