CLASSIFICATION AND LIFE HISTORY 35 



been buried deep in snow, or the heather has suffered badly 

 from frost or from the dry parching effect of north-east winds. 

 Although the hen appears able to remain in good condition, 

 the cock always loses weight to some extent often far 

 too much at this time and in consequence suffers from a 

 diminished power of resistance to " Disease," When thus half- 

 starved, and long before he has any chance of recuperation, the 

 exhausting necessities of courtship force themselves upon him. 



In February and March he commences to live an exhilarated 

 but exhausting and unsettled life. He becomes bold, noisy, 

 aggressive, jealous, excitable, pugnacious and magnificent to 

 see e He struts, becks, flies constantly about from one hillock 

 to another, defies all comers, fights viciously, eats little, and 

 constantly attends his mate. The result of the nervous and 

 physical strain of the breeding season shows its effects upon 

 the cock by a sudden and rapid drop in weight from over 24 

 ounces in mid-February to about 21 J ounces in March. 



With the hen, however, it is very different, for at this time 

 she leads an even quieter life than usual. She feeds constantly, 

 takes no part in the warfare of her mate, and becomes to a 

 greater or less extent " broody." When in this condition 

 she does not readily take the wing, and puts on flesh and fat. 

 By the time she begins to lay she has a large store of surplus 

 fat deposited throughout the body and in masses under the 

 skin ; and from this reserve she draws during the three weeks 

 of incubation. For the twenty-three days during which she 

 " sits " she leaves the nest only for a few minutes night and 

 morning to eat and drink, and her tracks and " clocker " 

 droppings are to be found always at the springs o? drinking- 

 places which happen to be nearest to her nest. 



At the beginning of the nesting season the hen Grouse weighs 

 as much as a heavy cock, sometimes even up to 27 ounces ; 

 but this holds good for a short time only. It is just during these 

 two months of the year, April and May, that she suffers most 

 from " Grouse Disease " ; an inexplicable fact, did we not know 

 that for various reasons, which are given elsewhere, March is 



