THE HAZEL GROUSE 79 



grouse of Scotland. Even black-cock 

 ground is not suited to its habits ; and it 

 would be far more likely to be at home 

 in pheasant coverts, which are found 

 throughout the British Isles. 



Noteworthy it is, too, that both of our 

 writers speak of its great table qualities. 

 I do not agree with Mr. Burton's friends, 

 who call the hjerpe the best eating of the 

 grouse tribe. I have always held that a 

 cold Scottish grouse and a bottle of 

 Burgundy is a lunch for the gods, and this 

 toothsome stranger shall not oust our older 

 friend from my gastronomic affections. But 

 the hazel grouse, as I have shot him, in 

 wintry woodlands, is excellent eating, and, 

 according to Sir Henry Pottinger, the 

 plentiful diet of wild berries to be obtained 

 in a Norwegian autumn gives an exceptional 



