140 HILL BIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



on the hills decreases, and its place is taken by various 

 grasses which are not so favourable to the Red Bird. 



During fine still days of early January it is interesting 

 to lie concealed on some sunny hill face of a low-lying moor 

 and to watch the mating of the Grouse. One hears on 

 every side the deep guttural calls of the cocks as they 

 " display " before the lady of their choice. Often they 

 rise almost perpendicularly into the air, descending on to 

 some boulder or knoll with loud cries. They are some- 

 times easy to approach, and even when disturbed are 

 reluctant to take flight. The pairing of the Grouse 

 takes place at such an early date that one or more 

 snowstorms invariably cause the mated birds to reform 

 into packs, but it may possibly be the case that even 

 under such conditions the birds remain paired. The 

 nesting season of the Grouse varies considerably, accord- 

 ing as to whether the moor is low-lying or exposed. On 

 the most favourable ground the birds commence to lay 

 before March is out — if the season has been an early one — 

 and between the 2000 and the 3000-foot levels fresh eggs 

 of the first nesting may be found up to the second week 

 in June. 



In 1913 I knew of a bird that was just hatching out 

 her brood as late as 13th July. It is indeed a very ques- 

 tionable benefit for high-nesting Grouse that an early 

 spring should be experienced, for unusual mildness causes 

 them to lay before the risk of damage by snow is past. 

 To take an example : The month of April 1914 brought 

 some of the finest weather conditions that have been 

 experienced for many years, and certain of the Grouse on 

 the high moors were a full month earlier than usual in 

 nesting. But May saw a great change, and before a north- 

 easterly wind snow was drifted heavily and fiercely across 

 the hill-tops into their southern corries. After the storm 

 a depth of fully three feet of closely-packed snow covered 



