214 THE BLACK GROUSE 
takes up his position on the most elevated spot, crowing and strut- 
ting round and round with spread-out tail like a Turkey Cock, and 
his wings trailing on the ground. The hens remain quietly near 
him, whilst the smaller or younger male birds keep at a respectful 
distance, neither daring to crow, except in a subdued kind of voice, 
nor to approach. If they attempt the latter, the master-bird 
dashes at the intruder, and often a short melée ensues, several others 
joining in it, but they soon return to their former respectful distance. 
I have also seen an old Black Cock crowing on a birch-tree with a 
dozen hens below it, and the younger Cocks looking on with fear 
and admiration. It is at these times that numbers fall to the share 
of the poacher, who knows that the birds resort to the same spot 
every morning.’ 
The food of these birds is abundant in quantity, and though 
simple, yet partakes of an extensive assortment of flavours. Twigs 
of the fine-leaved heath (Erica cinerea), and heather (Calluna) ; 
buds of the willow and birch; the tender shoots of cotton-grass, 
sedge, and grass ; and whortleberries, cranberries, and crowberries, 
are the principal items of their bill of fare, varied according to the 
season. In the months of February, March and April, they do much 
mischief to plantations by destroying the tender shoots of Scotch 
and Silver Fir. ‘In searching for food, the Black Grouse frequents 
the lower grounds of the less-cultivated districts, not generally 
removing far from the shelter of woods or thickets, to which it be- 
takes itself as occasion requires. It sometimes makes an excursion 
into the stubble-fields in search of the seeds of cereal plants, and in 
summer and autumn includes those of the grasses and rushes. 
While thus employed, it walks and runs among the herbage with 
considerable agility, and, when apprehensive of danger, flies off to 
a sheltered place, or settles down and remains motionless until the 
intruder passes by. It perches adroitly, and walks securely on 
the branches ; but its ordinary station is on the ground, where also 
it reposes at night. It may often, especially in spring, be seen 
on the turf-top of the low walls inclosing plantations. Its flight is 
heavy, direct, and of moderate velocity, and is capable of being 
protracted to a great distance.’ 1 
The Grey Hen constructs a rude nest of withered grass and a few 
twigs in the shelter of some low bush, and lays from five to ten eggs. 
The male bird takes no part in the bringing up of the brood, but 
leaves the duties of incubation and attention to the wants of his 
family to the hen, who devotes herself wholly to the careful nurture 
of her little ones. While the poults are in their nonage, she assidu- 
ously leads them about where food is most abundant; and if sur- 
prised by an intruder, leaves them to hide among the heath and 
ferns, creeps rapidly herself to some distance, and then rises in a 
fluttering manner, so that a stranger to her habits would suppose 
1 Macgillivray. 
