OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOD OF GROUSE 85 



red-tinged green flowers are in terminal clusters on an erect stem, 

 and are seen from spring to autumn. The plant grows in dry- 

 pastures, and on open heaths. The seeds are greedily eaten. 

 Juncus squarrosus, Heath Rush, a small rush about a foot high, 

 growing in drier situations than most rushes. The flower- and 

 seed-heads are very freely eaten. 

 Luzula cahipestris, Field Wood Rush, a small rush with soft, flat, 

 grass-like leaves, fringed with silky hairs. It grows in dry places. 

 The flower- and seed-heads are eaten. 

 The following additional list of plants, upon which Grouse are said to 

 feed, is given in a pamphlet on " The Improvement of Grouse Moors," by 

 the Rev. E. A. Woodruffe Peacock, who has examined the contents of many 

 crops and gizzards of the Grouse. 



PotentiUa tormentilla, Tormentil. 

 Trifolium minus, Suckling Clover. 

 Galium saxatile, Heath Bed -straw. 

 Pedicularis palustris. Marsh Lousewort. 

 Pedicularis sylvatica, Heath Lousewort. 

 The seeds of the following plants are greedily eaten, and are most useful 

 as late autumn and winter food : — 



Alojiecurus myosuriodes. Mouse-tail Grass. 



Molinea coerxdea, Purple Melio Grass. 



Atriplex 2^c(,tula, Common Orache. 



Cerastium triviale, Chickweeds and other moor cerastia. 



Polygonum avicidare, and P. persicaria, Persicaria, and Knot Grasses 



of all species. The flower-heads are also eaten. 

 Viola lutea, Yellow Violet. 

 Pteris aquilina, Bracken Fern. 

 In their season, too. Grouse are very fond of capsules of the moor mosses, 

 such as the Great Golden Maidenhair Moss {Polytrichum commune), and the 

 smaller fungi. 



For the purpose of reference the following plates and detailed descriptions 

 are given of some of the moor plants most commonly confused on account 

 of the variety of names by which they are known. 



