204 BLACK GROUSE. 



[Lagopus rupestris — Rock-Ptarmigan.] 

 Once in Sutheiiandshire, and in Perthshire. 



Genus— TETRAO. 

 TETRAO TETRIX— Black Grouse 



On wing of jet, from his repose 



In the deep heath, the Black-cock rose. 



Scott — Marmion. 



The Black-cock in appearance and in habit seems intermediate 

 between the Red Grouse and the Pheasant. He is partial to the 

 heather and the moor, but he prefers the upland valleys and 

 swamps, interspersed with birch and alder trees ; wide open lands 

 with patches of bracken, and here and there a cover of Spruce or 

 Scotch Fir, and plenty of water. He is ready, so to speak, to 

 breakfast with the Red Grouse on heather shoots, or the leaves and 

 berries of the whortle-berry or bog myrtle ; and to dine with the 

 Pheasant in the corn-fields of the lowlands ; but will resort in either 

 case for his leisure, to his favourite localities. 



The Black-cock is a meet companion for the Moor-fowl and 

 the Woodcock, and like them he must retire before the increasing 

 cultivation of the land. He is polygamous like the Pheasant. He 

 is a shy and very wary bird, and though he may attend but little to the 

 duties of the family, he seems ever on the alert for any danger that 

 may threaten the community at large. In an open country he is 

 therefore exceedingly difficult to approach. 



Good morrow to thy sable beak, 

 And glossy plumage, dark and sleek, 

 Thy crimson moon and azure eye, 

 Cock of the heath, so wildly shy. 



J. Baillte— TAe Black-cock. 



Black-Grouse still breed in Herefordshire. In the wild 

 picturesque open country between Cusop Hill and the Black 

 Mountains, in the parish of Craswell they are annually to be found, 

 and usually breed there. Walter Savage Landor, when living at 

 Llanthony about 60 years ago, is said to have introduced Black- 



