125 



BED GROUSE. 



GOE-COCK. MOOR-COCK. MOOE-7OWL. MUIE-FOWL. 



PLATE CXL. 



Lagopus Scoticus, VIELLOT. 



Tetrao Scoticug, LATHAM. 



THE Moor-cock pairs early in the spring, commonly in January, but 

 sometimes even earlier. A brood of young Grouse, able to fly a little, 

 was discovered on the 5th. of March, 1794, near Pendle Hill, in 

 Yorkshire, by the gamekeeper of Mr. Lister, afterwards Lord Ribblesdale; 

 and a nest with fifteen eggs was found on the 25th. of March, 1835, 

 on Shap Fell, Westmoreland. The female usually begins to lay in March 

 or April; she sits very close, and Mr. Salmon says that one allowed 

 him to take her off" her eggs. 



The nest is made of twigs of heather and grass, with occasionally 

 a few of the bird's own feathers, and is placed among heath in some 

 slight hollow. 



The eggs are usually six or seven, but sometimes from eight to 

 twelve, or even more, in number, of different shades of ground colour 

 reddish white, brownish yellow, yellowish grey, or yellowish white, 

 thickly clouded, blotted, and dotted with blackish and brown: they 

 are nearly of a regular oval form. 



While the young are hatching, the hen utters an occasional chuckle. 

 The Heath Poults leave the nest shortly after they are hatched, and 

 are soon able to fly; they keep together till the end of autumn, unless 

 dispersed by shooters: they are attended by both the parents. At the 

 beginning of the season they He close, but gradually become more 

 wild as they are disturbed. 



Mr. D. Brown, of Trinity College, Glenalmond, Perth, has also favoured 

 me with two fine specimens of the eggs of this species. 



