THE BLACK GROUSE 119 



in her plumage of brown, spotted and barred though it 

 be with darker shades, that she has scant claim to the 

 title "black" grouse, and. in fact, is generally termed 

 " greyhen." 



Black game nest somewhat earlier than do capercaillie, 

 the eggs, eight or ten in number, being usually laid by 

 about the middle of May. The food of these birds is of 

 a very mixed character, ranging, according to season, 

 from the buds and tender shoots of birch, willow, alder, 

 fir, and heather to various seeds and to fruits, such as 

 blaeberry, whortleberry, and cranberry. They also 

 display a great liking for grain, and numbers of black 

 grouse may generally be seen upon the corn-stooks and 

 in the stubbles during autumn in several counties of 

 North Britain. The weight of an old blackcock in good 

 condition is about 4 lb., and his length 22 inches ; grey- 

 hens turn the scale at from 2 lb. to 2\ lb., and measure 

 about 17 or 1 8 inches from top to toe. 



THE RED GROUSE. (Lagopus 



This bird, undoubtedly, is one of the most valuable 

 natural assets found upon the land throughout the whole 

 of Northern Britain. Thousands of these birds are 

 killed each season, and it is entirely on their account 

 that hundreds of thousands of pounds sterling change 

 hands every year. It has been computed that for 

 Scottish shootings alone no less a sum than ^"400,000 

 per annum is paid. If to this be added the rentals paid 

 for grouse moors in Yorkshire, Westmoreland, Cumber- 

 land, Derbyshire, and other English counties, in Wales 

 also, and in Ireland, it will be realized that the red grouse 

 is an important factor in insuring the circulation of money. 



