GROUSE: THE HEATHER BIRD. 



bushes; in patches of cotton grass; and, occasion- 

 ally, in depressions surrounded by low herbage, such 

 as wild thyme, etc., midway on the mountain side." 



The industry of the birds, if it can be so termed, 

 is thus quaintly pictured by Wm. Black in "White 

 Heather": 



Ronald Strang, in conversation with Carry Hod- 

 son, remarks : 



"There are six seven blackcocks ; do ye see 

 them?" 



"Oil, yes. What handsome birds they are!" she 

 said, with a curious sense of relief. 



"Ay," said he, "the lads are very friendly amongst 

 themselves just now ; but soon there will be wars and 

 rumors of wars when they begin to set up house each 

 for himself. There will be many a pitched battle on 

 those knolls there. Handsome? Ay, they're hand- 

 some enough ; but handsome is as handsome does. The 

 blackcock is not nearly as good a fellow as the grouse- 

 cock, that stays with his family and protects them, and 

 gives them the first warning if there's danger. These 

 rascals there wander off by themselves and leave their 

 wives and children to get on as they can. They're 

 handsome, but they're ne'er-do-weels. * There's one 

 thing: the villain has a price put on his head; for a 

 man would rather bring down one old cock thumping 

 on the grass than fill his bag with gray hens." 



Grouse shooting in Scotland and other parts of 

 Great Britain has long been classed among the most 

 enjoyable of sports. It commences on August 12, 

 ending on the loth of December, and so great is its 

 hold on British lawgivers that it has been facetiously 

 184 



