THE EED GUOIJSE. 57 



with red and the others are black. The quiUs are of a dusky colour, 

 and the legs are clothed with soft white feathers domi to the very 

 claws, which are of a strong texture, and of a Hght bro^ii colour. 

 Tlie female is a httle less than the male. The naked skin aboye 

 each eye is not so conspicuous, and the colours of its plumao-e in 

 general, much hghter than those of the male. ° ' 



Ihis species of grouse pair in the sprhig, and lay from fiye to ten 

 eggs : we have once or twice found twelve ; this, however, is con- 

 siclered rare. Sometimes these are foimd on the bare ground and 

 sometimes on a rude kind of nest, made of moss and a little heather 

 iliis IS generally placed m a somewhat sheltered position. Both 

 male and female birds attend to the young ; and guard them as weU 

 as they can agamst then- numerous enemies, in the shape of vermin, 

 and birds of prey. The young, or ponlts, foUow the mother the 

 eatne smnmei^ m the same manner as partridges do; nor is the 

 male bird wanting ui his attendance on the brood, but is generaUy 

 observed to remain at a short distance from them. The practice of 

 burmng the Img is often very destructive to eggs of the grouse • 

 and many thousands are annuaUy destroyed in this way 



Ihe habits of the red grouse display a strong feeHng for domesti- 

 cation, and are not nearly of so wild a nature as some other of the 

 grouse fanuly. They have occasionaUy been entirely tamed 

 A gentleman m Lreland, not many years ago, had two brace of birds 

 lor several seasons so domesticated that he used to take them mto 

 His parlour where they played mth his setter dogs. And they are 

 ottenlound descending from the moors and locating in the vicinity 

 ot corn-helds, and shelter themselves among the stubble both of 

 barley and oats In most severe winters when pressed for food 

 they wiU leave the hiUs and visit the cultivated grounds, and will 

 even be tomid occasionally sitting perched on the tops of the 

 labourers dwellings. 



The shooting of the red grouse has been extensively written 

 about, and many mmute particulars, as weU as contrary opinions, 

 has been laid before the pubHc on the subject. We cannot enter 

 mto the personal experience of every distinguished sportsman who 

 has favoured the world with them through the press • but we 

 purpose giving the reader a bird's-eye view of the mam featm-es of 

 the sport, and allow lum to fill up the vacuum by his own practice 

 and doings on the matter. At the same time we shall avaH our- 

 selves of such old and acknowledged authorities as have long been 

 tamiliar to those who have felt an interest in the hterature of 

 sporting. 



Mr. Daniel informs us, that in shooting red grouse the old 

 -biughsh spaniel or setter is of more use than the smooth pointer 

 Ihe lormer has a better nose, and his feet are defended by lono- 

 hau- from the chaffing effects of the long ling, wliich, in dry weather 

 cuts hke wKe. Setters are, for the most part, higher mettled than 

 pointers, and display more zeal and untiring courage They re- 

 quire, however, a plentiful supply of water ; and this is sometunes 



