318 TETRAONID.E, 



been killed very recently, and I have observed within the 

 last three years, that a considerable portion of the birds I 

 have examined bore no marks of having been shot, and have 

 probably been caught by sliding loops of horse liair set up 

 across their paths or runs in the heather. 



It has been observed that it seems almost marvellous that 

 a species which furnishes sport to so many, and to such an 

 extent, besides those taken clandestinely, should continue to 

 exist in such quantities in the country. The Earl of Strath- 

 more*'s gamekeeper was matched for a considerable sum to 

 shoot forty brace of moor game in the course of the 12th of 

 August, upon his lordship's moors in Yorkshire ; he perform- 

 ed it with great ease, shooting forty-three brace by two 

 o'clock : at eight in the morning, owing to a thick fog, he 

 had only killed three birds, and the odds ran much against 

 him ; however, the day cleared up by eleven, and the work of 

 slaughter went on rapidly. 



In 1801, a gentleman in Inverness-shire, shot fifty-two 

 brace of moor-game in one day, never killing a bird sitting, 

 or more than one bird at one shot. At the first of the sea- 

 son the young birds lie close, particularly Avhere the heath is 

 high and strong, affording excellent sport after a favourable 

 breeding season, and the newspapers frequently record the 

 great numbers killed by parties that are favourably located ; 

 but as the season advances, the birds get strong, and from 

 being disturbed, become wild, and the flimilies uniting to 

 form packs, are then very difficult to get shots at. 



Among the quantities of Red Grouse received in London, 

 considerable differences in the colour of the plumage are 

 obvious, and a difference also in weight is considered to be 

 peculiar to the birds of particular districts. 



The Red Grouse of North Wales are said to be large in 

 size, and light in colour : those of the Western Highlands are 

 also light in colour, and are said to be earlier breeders than 



