are very wary birds, and if alarmed they will stretch out their necks 

 and look over the top of the heather, their heads appearing like so many 

 snakes. 



In early spring Grouse seem to be very dependent on the shoots of the 

 heather to keep them in a healthy condition ; and should these young shoots 

 be nipped by a late frost or destroyed by sheep, the birds become thin and 

 out of condition, and frequently die of what is known as Grouse disease. 

 Birds which have died of it are found on dissection to be infested with a 

 small parasitic worm in the intestines. This is probably only on account of 

 the diseased state of the bird, for on further examination it will generally be 

 found that death was due to an acute inflammation of the lungs. 



The well-known note of the cock Grouse is heard best in the early 

 morning. He may usually be seen perched on some hillock, from which he 

 will spring up into the air and flutter down again. It is not known that 

 the cock Grouse pairs with more than one hen, but his actions in general 

 are similar to those of the polygamous Grouse. 



The Red Grouse is an early breeder, and is believed to pair with only 

 one female, assisting her in the rearing of the young, though he takes no 

 part in the incubation of the eggs. In the more sheltered parts of the moors 

 eggs are frequently laid in the end of March, but on the hills and mountain- 

 sides many birds do not lay until June. Many eggs are often destroyed on 

 the high grounds by late falls of snow, the birds being unable to find their 

 nests again. 



The nest is always placed on the ground, usually among long heather, 

 often near some rock or tall clump of heather, or at the edge of a burnt place. 

 It is usually well concealed; and when the bird is sitting it is generally 

 difficult to see her, so closely does her plumage resemble the surroundings. 

 The sitting bird does not readily forsake her eggs, even if frequently disturbed, 

 and often becomes so tame that she may actually be stroked with the hand 

 without leaving the nest. 



The number of eggs laid seems to vary with the season. In cold, wet 

 springs from four to eight eggs will be found to constitute a clutch ; while in 

 a good season most clutches will be large, from seven or eight to as many 

 as twelve or fourteen. Birds which breed late on the high grounds do not 

 seem to lay fewer eggs than those which lay early in the sheltered hollows. 

 The eggs are not subject to much variation in colour; the ground-colour is 

 usually a pale buff, spotted and blotched all over with rich dark red brown. 

 When the eggs are fresh the brown spots are often very red, sometimes 



116 



