30 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE GROUSE 



least degree disconcerted he would simply fly on to 

 a rock, and begin crowing at the dog.' 



While the willow grouse is well known to be fond 

 of perching in trees, its British congener rarely alights 

 even on a bush except when forced by hunger to feed 

 on hips in snowy weather. Mr. J. G. Millais gives a 

 charming account of a Westmoreland grouse which 

 was hatched and reared by a little bantam. ' Every 

 evening the bantam used to repair to a large beech 

 tree near the house, in which she was in the habit of 

 roosting when unencumbered by family cares. So 

 when she was allowed to remain out for the night her 

 first thought was to make for her old perch, to which 

 she considered the youngster was perfectly capable of 

 following, as he could now fly well. The latter, after 

 many ineffectual attempts to keep on his legs, was 

 forced to sleep on the ground at the foot of the tree, 

 for though he managed to get up to the perch, his 

 efforts to keep there were quite useless, as he always 

 fell off again, either backwards or forwards. How- 

 ever, in the course of time practice made perfect, and 

 he acquired such a liking for sitting on the trees that 

 he was often afterwards seen in the daytime flying 

 from branch to branch, appearing to be perfectly at 

 home.' Mr. Millais adds that this grouse ' had a par- 

 ticular affection for the lawn-tennis court, and when- 



