GROUSE: THE HEATHER BIRD. 



Grouse were usually taken by hawking and net- 

 ting until shooting flying was introduced, which is 

 said by Fosbroke to have been in 1725. 



Grouse, says St. John, generally make their nest 

 in a high tuft of Heather. "The eggs are peculiarly 

 beautiful and gamelike, of a rich brown color, spotted 

 closely with black. Although in some peculiarly early 

 seasons the young birds are full grown by the I2th 

 of August, in general five birds out of six which are 

 killed on that day are only half come to their strength 

 and beauty. The 2Oth of the month would be a 

 much better day on which to commence their legal 

 persecution. In October there is not a more beau- 

 tiful bird in our island ; and in January, a cock grouse 

 is one of the most superb fellows in the world, as 

 he struts about fearlessly with his mate, his bright 

 red comb erected above his eyes, and his rich dark 

 brown plumage shining in the sun. Unluckily they 

 are more easily killed at this time of the year than 

 at any other; and I have been assured that a ready 

 market is found for them, not only in January, but 

 to the end of February, though in fine seasons they 

 begin to nest very early in March. Hardy must the 

 grouse be, and prolific beyond calculation, to supply 

 the numbers that are killed legally and illegally." 



Another writer gives the following description 

 of the black grouse : "Although a forest-haunting 

 bird, frequenting pine woods and the shrubby glens 

 of mountain ranges, the black grouse does not con- 

 fine itself to such locations, but visits the sides of 

 the heath-clad hills, or the wide, open moorland, where 

 the bilberry plant abounds, and also makes incursions 

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