PINE-WOOD STUDIES 9 



these draw the line between forest and cultivation. 

 In such cases black-game, from its limited numbers, 

 rarely does harm. In search of barley, the birds 

 in winter sometimes descend to the stackyards. 

 At this season their food is greatly varied, consisting 

 of the tender branches and embryo buds of trees, 

 especially fir and larch ; and it is a curious fact that 

 the flesh of the bird at this time often tastes strongly 

 of the plant upon which it has fed. This, too, 

 applies to the willow-grouse and ptarmigan. 



Immediately after hatching the downy young 

 begin to follow the hens about and feed with them. 

 The ruddy chicks have many and fierce enemies; 

 in fact, they have one whilst still in the shell. In 

 spring great numbers of carrion crows fly off to 

 the moorlands and destroy enormous quantities 

 of eggs. After discovering a nest they go dallying 

 round and round until they provoke the brooding 

 bird to leave her eggs. Then they rush in, impale 

 one, and are off straight and swift to the nearest 

 stone wall. There the eggs are sucked of their 

 contents, the empty shells being everywhere scattered 

 about. Polecats and foumarts leave their usual 

 haunts and take up a temporary abode on the moors 

 during the time that grouse are hatching. Some- 

 times they take the brooding birds as they sit on the 

 nest; or, later, they commence their depredations 

 among the young. These fall an easy prey; and 



