BLACK GROUSE. 65 



blaeberries, and whortleberries ; and in winter, of tops and 

 buds of these plants, and of fir : they also make frequent 

 excursions into the stubble fields in autumn, being espe- 

 cially partial to barley. Birds which had lived in woods 

 during winter have been found to have their stomachs 

 stuffed with the foliage of Polypodium vulgare, which was 

 also taken by Macgillivray from the crop of a Pheasant. 

 In severe weather in Scandinavia they are well known to 

 burrow into the snow. 



Mr. Lloyd says that the Black Grouse is easily domesti- 

 cated, and if reared from a chick or taken young becomes 

 even tamer than the Capercaillie ; requiring similar treat- 

 ment. As an illustration of the familiarity of the bird in 

 the wild state, the following is taken from the ' Zoologist,' 

 p. 4440 : — "As Mr, S. W. Hurrelwas crossing the hill between 

 Carr-bridge and the Spey, on a fishing excursion, with some 

 of his dogs following, one of them pointed, when a Grey- 

 hen ofi'ered to do battle in defence of her brood, and flap- 

 ping her wings like fanners, she with heroic bravery actually 

 beat her canine antagonist, and drove him crest-fallen away. 

 Mr. Bass, M.P., and his friends, who have taken the shoot- 

 ings around Carr-bridge, are in the habit of giving presents 

 to the herd-boys in the districts, in order to engage them to 

 preserve the nests, and, if possible, guard them against 

 external violence. One of the keepers lately accosted one of 

 these herd-boys, and, in answer to several queries on the 

 subject of nests, was told by the boy, that, in guarding the 

 game from molestation, he had no difficulty except with one 

 nest, which was situated in a place much frequented by the 

 cattle, and which, he said, must have been destroyed unless 

 by some means protected. ' But,' continued the boy, ' I have 

 built a little house of stones and turf about it, and that will 

 prevent the cattle getting at it.' ' But,' replied the keeper, 

 ' you will certainly scare away the birds.' ' Oh no,' rejoined 

 the boy, ' I have left a little door for the hen to get in and 

 out at, and she sits on the eggs as usual ; ' which the keeper, 

 on visiting the place, found to be true." 



In the adult male, at the time of the lek or spcl, the 



VOL. III. K 



