GROUSE-SHOOTIJ^G. 799 



become very wild, not easily to be approached by the gun 

 within killing distance. The food of grouse consists of the 

 tender tops of heaths, the fruit of the cranberry, trailing ar- 

 butus, and crowberry ; and where arable land lies near their 

 haunts they will resort thither and feed upon grain. In the 

 Highlands of Scotland, during the months of August and 

 September, the slaughter of the red grouse is immense ; but 

 the great care bestowed upon their protection through the 

 rest of the year, and the comparatively small number requi- 

 site to replace the stock, owing to the numerous broods 

 derived from each pair, is at present a sufficient guarantee 

 against the final extinction of a species which is the peculiar 

 property of our islands, and which should be most carefully 

 protected and continued. 



In 1801, a gentleman in Inverness-shire shot about fifty- 

 two brace of grouse in one day, never killing a bird sitting, 

 or more than one bird at a shot. At the first of the season 

 the young birds lie close, particularly where tlie heath is 

 high and strong, affording excellent sport after a favourable 

 breeding time ; but as the season advances the birds get 

 strong, and from being disturbed become wild, and the 

 families uniting to form packs are then very difficult to get 

 shots at. 



The grouse varies in weight from fifteen to twenty-four 

 ounces. Four males taken at random from a number killed 

 in Morayshire weighed — two, twenty-four ounces and three 

 quarters, one, twenty-four and a half, and the fourth, twenty- 

 four ounces ; and two females — one weighed twenty-four and 

 a quarter ounces, and the other twenty-three and a quarter 

 ounces. In Yorkshire grouse are generally darker, and smaller 

 than in Scotland ; and yet Pennant mentions that he heard 

 of one being killed in Yorkshire which weighed twenty-nine 

 ounces. 



