28 BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



little bigger than Sparrows. It is remarkable how 

 the behaviour of the parent birds changes once 

 the chicks are hatched. While they have only 

 eggs, the hen bird when flushed usually flies straight 

 away and the cock " whirrs " off as if he had no 

 nest in the vicinity. When the hen's patience has 



NESTING HAUNT OF THE GROUSE 



been rewarded, however, and she is the proud 

 mother of seven or eight healthy chicks, all this 

 changes. Both birds are constantly on the look- 

 out for enemies, and the hen Grouse will rise at 

 your feet and flop along ahead of you as if badly 

 wounded. Sometimes, even, she will not take wing 

 at all, but will walk gently off, every now and 

 again looking back at you reproachfully. The cock 

 bird behaves in much the same way, only he does 

 not appear so anxious about his chicks as the hen 

 bird. When' a pair of Golden Eagles are to be found 



