TETRAO LAGOPUS. 551 



the rate of a mile a minute, would have gone clean through the 

 pail as easy as two sheets of paper had the pail been fixed. It 

 is plentiful on the Lomond Hills, and now breeds on Tentsmuir. 

 In April 1894, thirty-two pairs were seen in one day. It was first 

 introduced by the late Admiral Maitland Dougall of Scotscraig, in 

 1876. On July 2nd, his gamekeeper went with the keeper from 

 Blairadam to the moor of Outh, and captured a pair of young 

 grouse, which were brought to Tentsmuir. On August 8th, next 

 year, eight more birds were got from Outh. On August 26th, 

 1S78, the Admiral shot five birds — the first fruits. From 1879 

 to 1 886 an average bag of 20 brace was got. In 1890, 30 brace. 

 In 1891, 50 brace : and in 1892, 73 J brace was reached, which 

 proves its success on Tentsmuir. 



Although it does not change to white in winter like the grey 

 species and the rest of the genus, individuals are met with more or 

 less spotted and patched w T ith white. Scarcely two males are alike. 

 In some the under parts and a large portion of the back are black ; 

 but the general colour is chestnut, marked on the back and wing 

 coverts with black spots, and undulating black lines on the under ; 

 the four middle tail feathers also marked with transverse lines, 

 paler in summer ; the space above the eyes bright scarlet ; iris, 

 hazel It is eerie to hear the kok, kok, kok, or bold challenge of 

 the gorcock at gloaming upon some wild mountain moor, far 

 away from human dwelling, as I have heard it in Sutherland 

 and Caithness shires, uncertain of the way to the next house or 

 inn, which in a deep voice sounds like go, go, go, go, go back, go 

 back, Next man, its natural life-weeder is the peregrine falcon, 

 living almost solely on it, killing with the least pain. Unlike, 

 as Burns says in his " Brigs of Ayr," when— 



" The thundering guns are heard on every side, 

 The wounded coveys reeling, scatter wide ; 

 The feather'd field-mates, bound by Nature's tie, 

 Sires, mothers, children, in one carnage lie." 



The male is 16 inches long by 27 ; the female less, and lighter 

 in colour — yellowish red, spotted and barred with black. It is 

 the only species of the genus that does not turn white in winter. 

 The one likest it is the willow ptarmigan, Lagopus Saliceti, of 

 the north of Europe and America. Although " authority be a 

 stubborn bear, yet it is often led by the nose with gold," like 

 grouse shootings. 



