THE FOOD OF THE RED GROUSE 97 



March, Calluna shoots (97 per cent.) and blaeberry stalks 



and buds. 



April, Calluna shoots (93 per cent.) and very little besides. 

 May, Calluna shoots (82 per cent.) and rather more 



" various." 



June, Calluna shoots (82 per cent.) and " various." 

 July, Calluna shoots (53 per cent.) and an increasing amount 



of " various." 

 August, Calluna shoots (60 per cent.) and some Calluna 



flowers and " various." 

 September, Calluna shoots (63 per cent.) and 16 per cent. 



of Calluna flowers and " various." 

 October, much less (42 per cent.) of Calluna shoots, and 



nearly 30 per cent, of Calluna flowers, and some 



" various." 

 November, still less (39 per cent.) of Calluna shoots, and 



33 per cent, of Calluna flowers and seed-heads, and the 



rest " various." 

 December, a rise in Calluna shoots to 60 per cent., but still 



27 per cent, of Calluna seed-heads. 



LIST or VEGETABLE FOOD EATEN FROM TIME TO TIME 

 BY THE RED GROUSE. 



Heather or Ling (Calluna vulgaris), the staple food of Grouse . 

 Grouse eat the shoots, flowers, and seed-heads. See 

 PL XL, p. 83. 



Blaeberry (V actinium myrlillus), known also as Whortle- 

 berry, or Whorts Bilberry, Whimberry, Blueberry, or 

 Blue Whortleberry. A low branched shrub 6 to 18 

 inches high, growing often in large green patches The 

 flowers which appear in April, May, and June are flesh- 

 coloured, and the berries, which are black with a purple 

 bloom, ripen in July and August ; they are agreeable 

 to the taste. Grouse eat the stem, buds, flowers, and 

 berries. See PL XIL, Fig. 1. 



