THE BLACK GEOTJSE. 55^ 



simimer._ The young males quit their mother in the beginning 

 of the winter, and keep in flocks of seven or eight until spring. 

 During that period they frequent the woods. In their first feather 

 they resemble their mother, and do not acquire their full plumage 

 till near the end of autumn, when it gradually changes, and 

 assumes that blueish black colour which* it afterwards retains. 



The black grouse, like other members of the grouse family are 

 polygamous, and in January, February, and March, the plumage 

 of the male bird assumes a rich glossy steel blue, which, .with ms 

 noble bearing, niakes him look very imposing. In the warm days 

 at the end of winter, the males after feeding may be seen congre- 

 gated together on some turf-furze, sheep-fold, or rude paling, 

 pluming their wings, and practising various devices to attract the 

 notice of the female. Should the weather continue warm and 

 favourable, these groups are gradually broken up. " Here, after 

 perhaps, many battles have been fought and rivals vanquished, the 

 noble fuU-dressed black cock takes his stand, commencing at first 

 dawn; and where the game is abundant, the hill on every side 

 repeats the murmuring call ahnost before the utterers can be 

 distinguished. The cocks strut around the spot selected, trailing 

 their wings, inflating the throat and neck, raising and expanding 

 their tails, and puffing up the plumage of those parts, and the now 

 brilliant wattle above the eyes, displaying the beautifully contrasting 

 white under-covers, and imitating, as it were, the attitudes of the little 

 turkey-cock. He is soon heard bjr the females, who crowd round 

 their lord and master."* Al'ter incubation is fairly commenced, 

 this fighting among the males is at an end ; and they then separate 

 themselves from the females, retire among brushwood and large 

 fern beds to complete the process of moulting ; and leave to the 

 females the entire charge of the young. When these are hatched, 

 the mother guides them to some high situation where there is 

 plenty of shelter from long grass and luxuriant herbage, and where 

 plenty of food can be readily obtained. This consists in the 

 summer of the seeds of the cranberry, crowberry, and blackberry, 

 &c. ; and in the winter they feed on the fir shoots, and the catkins 

 of hazel and birch, which impart to their flesh a peculiar flavoui', 

 well known to_ epicures. 



These fine birds are to be found in many districts of England ; on 

 Leith Hill, Ashdown in St. Leonards' and in the New, and in the 

 Bere forests. They are likemse found in considerable numbers on 

 the estates of the Marquis pf Anglesea, at Bean Dessert, Stafi'ord- 

 shire, Barnstable, Devonshire, and in many of the moor districts 

 of Northmnberland, Durham, Cumberland, Westmorland, and 

 Yorkshire. It is now a general opinion that this kind of game has 

 increased considerably in aU parts of the kingdom of late years. 



The shooting of the black grouse does not commence till the 

 1st of September ; and they are considered royal game. They are, in 



*Six William Jardine, 



