84 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



Vaccinium oxycoccus, Bog Cranberry. The leaf and the berry are 

 sometimes eaten. See PI. xxiv., p. 86, Fig. 2. 



Vaccinium vitis-idaa, Red Whortleberry, Clusterberry, and (in Scotland) 

 Cranberry. Leaf and berry are eaten. See PI. xxiv., p. 86, Fig. 3. 



Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Red Bear Berry. See PI. xxiv., p. 86, Fig. 4. 



Rubus chamamorus, Cloudberry, or (in Cumberland) Noops. The leaf 

 is eaten, and so are the berries. See PI. xxv., p. 87, Fig. 1. 



Empetrum nigrum, Crowberry, Crakeberry or Lingberry. The top shoots, 

 tight leaf buds, and berries are eaten. See PI. xxv., p. 87, Fig. 2. 



Erica cinerea, Purple Bell Heather. The flower alone is eaten, but while 

 it is out it is eaten in fair quantities. See PI. xxv., p. 87, Fig. 3. 



Erica tetralix, Cross-leaved Heath. Flower-heads are eaten in quantities, 

 but leaf-shoots are avoided. See PI. xxv., p. 87, Fig. 4. 



Salix repens, Dwarf or Creeping Willow, a low, straggling shrub from 

 2 inches to 1 foot in height. Foliage and young shoots more 

 or less silky white. The plant has small oblong leaves, and bears 

 small catkins in spring, followed by silky seed vessels. Found 

 on sandy ground. Where it occurs the leaves and young shoots 

 are greedily eaten. 



Myrica gale, Bog Myrtle, or Sweet Gale, an erect shrub, 2 or 3 feet 

 high, fragrant when rubbed. It has long, narrowish pointed leaves, 

 slightly toothed near the tip, and often downy beneath. It bears 

 small catkins before the leaves are out. Always found in boggy 

 places. The buds are eaten in winter and early spring, but 

 sparely. 



Eriophomm, Cottonsedge or " Cotton Grass," two or three species of 

 similar habit. A rush-like plant, bearing in summer, after the 

 flowering period, conspicuous, white, cottony tufts, either solitary 

 or in clusters of two or three or more. Grouse are very greedy 

 for the flower of this plant in spring, and the tender shoots are 

 also said to be useful when they first appear. The plant is then 

 known by gamekeepers as "Blackhead" or "Mosscrop." It is found 

 in marshy ground. 



Rumex acetosella, Common Red or " Sheep " Sorrel. A slender plant, 

 from 3 or 4 inches to 1 foot high, often turning red. It has long, 

 more or less arrow-shaped leaves, very acid to the taste. The 



