36 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



Bed Grouse is the one dominant bird, cherished and protected everywhere with 

 the greatest solicitude for the unrivalled sport it yields. The Eed Grouse is a 

 thorough ground bird, although it may occasionally be seen sitting in the stunted 

 willow, birch, and thorn trees, and is fond of perching on boulders or on the 

 rough, " dry " walls that divide the moors from the highways and upland pastures. 

 In spite of the bird's abundance it does not make itself very conspicuous, and the 

 inexperienced observer may wander over miles of moor without seeing many 

 Grouse. They skulk in the heather, and generally prefer to run out of harm's 

 way instead of taking wing. They are wary enough, too, and are ever on the 

 outlook for approaching danger, craning their heads high above the cover, and 

 looking warily about in all directions. When flushed, however, they will be found 

 to fly well and with great speed, although seldom rising very high. Like the 

 Ptarmigan, they often skim on stiff arched wings for a long distance over a ridge 

 or bank, and if much disturbed will prolong their flight across a wide valley, or 

 along the hillsides for a mile or more. At all times of the year the Eed Grouse 

 is socially inclined, and in autumn becomes to a great extent gregarious, 

 " packing " towards the end of August, when it becomes more wary and wild. 

 Previous to stormy weather these packs are found on the highest ground, but 

 when the change arrives they seek the sheltered hillsides. During severe snow- 

 storms the Eed Grouse will burrow into the snowdrifts for shelter. The note of 

 the Eed Grouse is very loud and highly characteristic, most frequently heard as the 

 bird rises startled from the heather. It may best be expressed as a loud, clear, 

 go-bac go-bac bac-bac-bac. Its crow, heard during the pairing season, and 

 especially in the early morning, is slightly modified into a loud and clear cok-ok-ok. 

 The cry of the female is little more than a low croak. The food of the Eed Grouse 

 is chiefly composed of the green, tender tops of the ling (Callund) and the heather 

 (Erica); but various ground fruits are eagerly devoured in autumn (the birds' 

 droppings at this season staining the rocks dark purple) as well as the seeds of 

 weeds; whilst during harvest and severe weather the birds will visit oat stubbles 

 and even stack-yards at some distance from their usual haunts. I have known 

 Eed Grouse to be taken in the streets of Sheffield during severe winters, and 

 great numbers to be shot on farms and near dwelling-houses several miles from 

 the moorlands. As some misapprehension may arise respecting this apparent 

 " retreat " of species from adverse conditions, I may here repeat what I have said 

 concerning it in the volume dealing with the migration of British birds. Scores 

 of similar instances might be given ; and in some continental districts, where the 

 weather has been far more severe than with us, still more extraordinary cases 

 have occurred of wild birds visiting civilized places to seek for food. Now, in 

 the first place, it may be remarked that however unusual the locality may be in 

 which such species may appear under these exceptional circumstances, it is always 

 within the normal area occupied by that species. A Nutcracker will never come 

 to an English cottage door for food, any more than a Eobin will ever appear at the 



