THE BLACK GEOUSE. 161 



of Spottiswoode, 1881, 17 brace; 1882, 34| brace; 1883, 

 20| brace; 1884, 32 brace; 1885, 38 brace; 1886, 

 24 brace; 1887, 13 brace; 1888, 15^ brace; 1889, 22 

 brace; 1890, 6^ brace; 1891, 25^ brace; or in all, 248^ 

 brace in eleven seasons. The heaviest bag in one day was 

 made on Flass Farm, on the 15th of September 1887, when 

 7 brace were killed. On the 16th of October 1887, 6 brace 

 were got on Cattleshiel Farm. 



The favourite haunts of this species are the lower slopes 

 of the Lammermuirs, where fir plantations and thickets of 

 birch, as well as stunted willow coverts, afford it shelter. 

 In the early part of the shooting season the young birds 

 are easily approached as they lie concealed in long heather, 

 rushes, or ferns ; but later, in autumn and winter, Black 

 Grouse are very wild and wary, and will not allow the 

 sportsman to come near them. 



The principal food of this bird is heather; the seeds 

 of rushes, and wild berries of various kinds are also eaten ; 

 while in autumn it visits the stubble fields on the skirts of 

 the moors in search of barley and other grain. In winter it 

 feeds upon the buds of the Scotch fir. 1 



It is polygamous, and in spring, during the time of the 

 " lek," severe fights take place between the rival males. The 

 nest is generally placed on the ground under a low bush or 

 tuft of heather, and contains from six to ten eggs of a 

 yellowish white, speckled with reddish brown. 



Amongst the prices of the various kinds of game fixed 

 by the Scottish Parliament in the reign of Queen Mary 

 (1551), those of the Black-Cock and Grey Hen are stated 

 to be " sex pennies " the " peece." 



1 Mr. Smith, head gamekeeper, Hadclo House, Aberdeenshire, says he has seen 

 numbers feeding on Scotch fir buds at Kyleshill, and Backlea Woods near Polwarth, 

 Berwickshire. 



VOL. II. 



