WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



they never found her out, and she hatched her brood in 

 safety. 



Grouse generally make their nest in a high tuft of 

 heather.Theeggs are peculiarly beautiful andgame-like,of 

 a rich brown colour, spotted closely with black. Although in 

 some peculiarly early seasons,theyoungbirds arefullgrown 

 by the 12th 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 20th of the month would be a 

 much better day on which to commence their legal persecu- 

 tion. In October there is not a more beautiful 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. Un- 

 luckily, 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 pro- 

 lific beyond calculation, to supply the numbers that are 

 yearly killed, legally and illegally. Vermin, however, are 

 their worst enemies; and where the ground is kept clear of 

 all their winged and four-footed destroyers, no shooting 

 seems to reduce their numbers. 



I cannot say that my taste leads me to rejoice in the 

 slaughter of a large bag of grouse in one day. I have no 

 ambition to see my name in the county newspapers as hav- 

 ing bagged my seventy brace of grouse, in a certain 

 number of hours, on such and such a hill. I have much 



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