144 THE GROUSE 



they would seem to show, that though 

 one may not aspire to any striking 

 originality in handling so familiar a sub- 

 ject, yet the last word has not been said, 

 and there is some need of a careful and 

 modest presentment of the methods and 

 manners at present practised in shooting 

 the grouse. 



The grouse has the initial distinction, 

 over our other game-birds, of being the 

 only one peculiar to these islands. 



Except in the South and West of 

 England, the grouse is found wherever 

 its natural food, heather or crowberry, 

 flourishes. 



The best grouse moors in England, and 

 indeed in the British Islands, are those of 

 Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Grouse are 

 plentiful, in varying degree, through- 

 out the northern counties of England, 

 Northumberland, Durham, Westmorland, 

 Cumberland, and Lancashire. Good 

 moors are found along the Pennine 

 Range, and in Cheshire, Shropshire, and 

 Staffoidshire. 



