320 



Birds. 



THE EED GROUSE. (Lagopus scoticus.) 



" High on exulting wing the Heath-Cock rose, 

 And blew his shrill blast o'er perennial snows." 



ROGERS 



THIS bird is called by some ornithologists the Moor 

 Cock, and by others Bed Game. The beak is black and 

 short ; over the eyes there is a bare skin of a bright red. 

 The general colour of the plumage is red and black, 

 variegated, and intermixed with each other, except the 

 wings, which are brownish, spotted with red, and the 

 tail, which is black; the feet are covered with thick 

 feathers down to the very claws. It is common in the 

 north of England, in Scotland, and in Wales ; and not 

 only affords great diversion to the noblemen and gentle- 

 men of those countries who are fond of shooting, but also 

 repays them well for their trouble, as the flesh is very 

 delicate, and holds on our table an equal place with that 

 of the partridge and the pheasant. The season of Grouse 

 shooting commences on the 12th of August. In winter 

 they are found in flocks of sometimes fifty to one hundred 

 in number, which are termed by sportsmen packs, and 

 become remarkably shy and wild, seldom allowing the 

 sportsman to approach them within one hundred yards. 



