116 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 



forty years standing, at which time, though much 

 valued as a delicacy, a Heathpoult sold for eighteen 

 pence. "The whortle-berry (as a gentlemen of 

 Tavistock informs me) is the principle food of the 

 black-cock. This beautiful bird is still to be found 

 on Dartmoor, though not so frequently as it was 

 half a century ago. Heathpoults are also met with 

 on Exmoor, and in the neighbourhood of South- 

 molton ; but according to the information of the 

 late Mr. Bickford of Dunsford, they are much more 

 frequent on the moors of Hatherleigh and 

 Holsworthy, than in any other part of Devonshire. 

 This, indeed, is an excellent shooting country, 

 supplied with abundance of game ; and Mr. 

 Bickford' s hospitable table was often furnished with 

 the Heathpoult. It does not appear that either the 

 Redgrouse or Ptarmigan was ever seen in Devon- 

 shire " (Hist, of Devonshire, p. 104). Montagu 

 writes in 1802; "On Dartmoor and its neighbourhood 

 this bird is now become extremely scarce " (Orn. 

 Diet). Dr. Moore follows in 1837, with the 

 suggestion, "It is very possible that the race of 

 the blackcock may soon become extinct in Devon- 

 shire, as the cultivation and enclosure of great parts 

 of Exmoor, and other causes, depending on the 

 want of attention to the preservation of the red deer, 

 in consequence of the decline of the hunt, equally 

 operates against the heathfowl, and will probably 

 lead to the latter becoming ultimately as scarce as 

 the Bustard" (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 228). 



