LV. EE D G E U S E. 



(La ff opus scoticus.} 



I HAVE only given a representation of young Grouse, not having 

 a drawing of the adult bird from life. They were caught squat- 

 ting among the heather. At an early age they greatly resemble 

 young black game, except that the toes are feathered all the way 

 down to the claws, and the hind claw is much shorter, as they 

 are not perching birds. I never saw one perch on a tree. They 

 feed almost entirely on heather, but will eat oats when they can 

 find a field of them near the moor. They are not so numerous 

 here as on the inland moors, although the ground is suitable, nor 

 are they of so rich a colour as those of the Perthshire moors. 



The cock Grouse takes great care of the brood, and assists 

 the hen to defend them. In late autumn, when the coveys unite 

 and fly about together in a flock "and get very wild, instead of 

 being put up by keen-scented dogs, they are then driven by 

 beaters to the shelters where the sportsmen are concealed to get 

 a shot at them as they pass. Many such hiding places may be 

 seen on the well-stocked Aberdeenshire moors. 



THE BLACK GKOUSE (Tetrao tetrix). The Blackcock is less 

 scarce here than the Grouse, or, at least, is more in evidence. 

 Perching as he does on the leafless birch trees in winter, and 

 inhabiting lower and more frequented ground near the coast, 

 which is indented with bays and creeks, he can fly across 

 when pursued, and so elude the sportsman. He is not so 

 cautious in avoiding the wire fences, which often prove fatal 

 when he flies against them. In springtime we have often found 

 them dead from that cause. They feed very largely on the buds 



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