POULTRY TRIBE. 259 



Another instance of remarkable instinct in this 

 bird occurred in the same neighbourhood. In 

 those districts the herd-boys are paid to preserve 

 the nests and protect the birds. One of these 

 boys told a keeper lately, that he had no difficulty 

 excepting with one nest, which was in a place 

 much frequented by cattle. " But (he said) I 

 have built a little house of stones and turf, and 

 that will prevent the cattle from getting at it." 

 The keeper objected that he would certainly 

 scare away the bird. " Oh ! no," he replied, " I 

 have left a little door for the hen to get in and 

 out at, and she sits as usual." The keeper, on 

 visiting the place, found this to be actually the 

 case, and many persons witnessed the curious fact. 



The supply of black grouse to the London 

 poulterers is very large and continuous, from 

 the end of August till the following month of 

 April ; during the first four months, from Scotland, 

 and afterwards, from Norway and Sweden. 



The RED GROUSE, or moor-fowl, is the bird thus 

 described by Burns ? 



" The moorcock springs, on whirring wings, 

 Among the blooming heather." 



And these lines are very descriptive of the flight 

 of the bird, which is low and peculiar, and appa- 

 rently performed with considerable effort. This 



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