GROUSE: THE HEATHER BIRD 



To know the wind and weather will make the salmon spring; 

 To know the spot of heather that hides the strongest wing ; 

 To tell the moon's compliance with hail, rain, wind and snow ; 

 Ha ! ha ! this is the science of Roger Goodfellow. 



Nodes Ambrosianae. 



THE close association of grouse with the Heather 

 will afford, it is hoped, ample apology for the 

 introduction of the present chapter. 

 The existence of grouse among the Heather, and 

 the service rendered by the plant to the birds, attracted 

 the attention of the early historians of Scotland. Bel- 

 lenden, in his translation of Boece, writes : "In Scot- 

 land ar mony mure cokis and hennis quhilk etis nocht 

 bot seid, or croppis of hadder." 



This statement is reflected in the following: 



Within the fabric rude 

 Or e'er the moon waxes to the full, 

 The assiduous dame the spotted spheroid sees 

 And feels beneath her heart, fluttering with joy. 

 Not long she sits, till with redoubled joy 

 Around her she beholds an active brood 

 Run to and fro, or through her covering wings 

 Their downy heads look out: and much she loves 

 To pluck the Heather crop, not for herself, 

 But for their little bills. Thus, by degrees, 

 She teaches them to find food which God 

 Has spread for them in desert wild. 

 And seeming barrenness. 



181 



