18 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



has always held a foremost place amongst toothsome 

 edibles. Again, another reason why ornithological science 

 should be brought to bear upon the Grouse, is that it is a 

 favourite bird of the sportsman, many thousands of acres 

 being annually preserved by rich owners for its propagation. 



The favourite home of the Grouse is upon the 

 moors of Scotland and Yorkshire, though the bird affects 

 the North of England generally, and is also found in 

 Ireland ; yet, as its Linnsean name implies, it is more 

 particularly a dweller among the heather of the moors 

 upon the hills of Scotland. 



The distinguishing features of the Tetraonida?, or 

 Grouse family, are that the eyebrows are naked (in this 

 and some other species their place is taken by an arch of 

 red) ; also the legs are clothed, as in the species before us, 

 with a considerable quantity of fine greyish feathers. 

 The shape, too, of the Grouse is peculiar, as regards the 

 breadth of the breast and back in comparison with the 

 height. The length of the male bird is about sixteen 

 inches, whilst the female is generally about half an inch 

 less. The plumage of both is pretty and striking; indeed, 

 the male may fairly be considered handsome, inasmuch as 

 the prevailing colour of his plumage is rich reddish brown; 

 I'rom the head, down the side of the neck, and over the 

 throat and breast this rich colour is much intensified; 

 the rest of the body is pencilled and spangled with black, 

 the feathers being tipped with gold and golden brown. 

 The female is much lighter, and the rich red of the male 

 bird deteriorates to a greyish brown, with golden brown 

 upon the breast ; all the feathers, too, are tipped with white 

 over the whole of the body. 



The male Grouse is very pugilistic in the early spring, 



