GROUSE: THE HEATHER BIRD. 



yon other day,' 'See thou yonder hill, and yon other 

 hill.' " 



The grouse occasionally furnished inspiration for 

 Burns, as in the following: 



Now westlin' winds and slaughtering guns 

 Bring autumn's pleasant weather; 



The moorcock springs, on whirring wings 

 Among the blooming heather. 



Again, in that feeling composition where he calls 

 on his feathered friends to mourn the demise of Cap- 

 tain Matthew Henderson, "a gentleman who held the 

 patent for his honors immediately from Almighty God," 



Mourn, ye wee songsters o' the wood; 

 Ye grouse that crap the heather bud, 

 Ye curlews calling thro' the clud ; 



Ye whistling plover; 

 And mourn ye whirring paitrick brood ; 



He's gane forever. 



190 



