THE GROUSE IN HEALTH 

 AND IN DISEASE 



PART I. THE GROUSE IN HEALTH 

 CHAPTER I 



THE CLASSIFICATION AND LIFE HISTORY OF THE GROUSE 



THE name Grouse, in the form " Grows," has been traced back The name 

 by Salusbury Brereton to the reign of Henry VIII. (1531), C 

 and in its present form to 1603. But, since it first occurs in 

 an ordinance for the regulation of the Royal Household at 

 Eltham in Kent, it ought in all probability to be applied to 

 the Black Grouse which may then have inhabited that county, 

 though no actual record has yet been discovered. Further 

 particulars are given by Professor Newton in his " Dictionary 

 of Birds." 1 The appellation has, however, by universal consent 

 been long transferred to the Red Grouse, the Moorfgwl of our 

 forefathers, and when standing alone would never now be under- 

 stood otherwise. 



This species is the most characteristic bird of the Scottish Distribu- 

 moorlands, including the Hebrides and the Orkneys, and is 

 plentiful thence to the northern counties of England ; in few 



1 A. Newton, "Dictionary of Birds," p. 388. London: A. and C. Black, 

 1893-1896. 



