THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE GROUSE 21 



relief. Grouse also like to sun themselves on a warm bank or slab of rock 

 often resting with one wing extended. 



The practice of " becking " has been thus described in a note by Mr Alston in 

 Dresser's "Birds of Europe" 1 : "Early on frosty mornings the cocks are fond of 

 perching on a knowe or hillock and uttering their clear-ringing er-eck, Beck . 

 kek-kek ! wuk, wuk, wuk. At such times they may often be seen to mg- " 

 rise perpendicularly in the air to a height of several feet, and then drop again 

 on the same spot." " Becking " is fully described by the Rev. H. A. Macpherson 

 in the Fur and Feather Series, where it is pointed out that the practice is in 

 the nature of an amorous demonstration by the cock Grouse with the object of 

 attracting his mate, 2 and it may be compared to the peculiar antics adopted by 

 the Blackcock and Capercailzie from a similar motive. " Becking," however, is 

 not confined to the breeding season, indeed it is more usual during the autumn 

 and winter months than in the spring. Mr Macpherson describes in a most 

 interesting chapter the manner in which Grouse may be shot by taking 

 advantage of this peculiar habit. 



Grouse, when fully grown, do not pass the night huddled together like 

 Partridges, but "jug" singly amongst the heather, taking care not to be far 

 apart. From the traces left in time of snow it is found that they 



Jugging. 



usually lie about a foot or two apart, so that a pack of a hundred 

 may be contained within an area of a dozen square yards. 



In the words of a Highland gamekeeper : " Grouse glory in their ' hardiness,' " 

 and it is almost incredible how little they are affected by wet, cold, and snow. 

 It may indeed be said that so far as the adult Grouse is concerned it Hardiness 

 matters not what the weather is so long as his food supply is not ofGrouse * 

 affected. They will never desert high ground for low ground merely on account 

 of a heavy fall of snow, provided that there is sufficient wind to keep the exposed 

 ridges clear, and thus give access to the heather ; and even if the whole Gr 

 moor should be covered they will burrow in the soft snow to reach 

 the heather underneath. It is quite common to come upon birds in holes a foot or 

 two under the loose snow. It is only when the snow has become covered with 

 a hard, icy crust that the Grouse begin to feel the pinch of hunger. On these 

 occasions they may be seen in large packs following in the track of a herd of 

 deer or a flock of sheep in order to take advantage of the broken surface. They 



1 " Birds of Europe," vol. vii. p. 168. 

 Fur and Feather Series, " The Grouse," pp. 65-72. 



Jrouse in 

 snow. 



