BRITAIN S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 105 



They are huffish white or yellow, thickly covered with 

 reddish-brown spots. The cock remains loyally by his 

 mate throughout the season, in strong contrast to the males 

 of polygamous Game-birds. The hen is very faithful to 

 her duties, often sitting very closely in the presence of 

 danger. At all times Grouse that have not been much 

 disturbed are inclined to trust to their protective coloration, 

 and to escape notice by squatting or by running through 

 the heather. When ' flushed," the cock rises with a loud 

 cackle. He has also a loud, prolonged crow, uttered 

 evening and morning from the eminence of some hillock 

 or bundle of peats. ' Go, go, go, go, go back, go back,' 

 it is syllabled. The hen has a low, short croak. 



The chicks of the Grouse are typical of the Order. 

 They are hatched in an extremely advanced state, being 

 able to nm about and find food for themselves at once, 

 as in the case of that familiar member of the Order, 

 the domestic fowl. The down plumage is of a huffish hue 

 above, except for the chestnut crown and the dark longi- 

 tudinal stripes down the back. These stripes are character- 

 istic of the chicks of the Order. Another and more 

 notable feature presented by young Game-birds is the 

 power of ' precocious flight.' Most nestlings are full grown 

 when a few weeks old, and only then possess fully developed 

 flight feathers as part of their first real plumage. But 

 young Grouse and other Game-birds have a miniature set 

 of flight feathers when only half-grown. These are replaced 

 by others of suitable size at the time when other birds 

 receive their first set. This is of course an advantage to 

 the young birds, but has also its drawback. A brood able 

 to fly is liable to be scattered too much, and some of the 

 chicks may thus be lost while yet not wholly able to 

 fend for themselves. The cock Grouse assists in looking 

 after the young brood. 



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