THE GROUSE. 29 



ins orange -coloured, the throat red, the plumage on the head 

 and neck a light tawny red, each feather being marked with 

 several transverse bars of black; the back and scapulars are a 

 deeper red, and on the middle of each feather is a large black 

 jspot ; the breast and belly are of a dull purplish-brown colour, 

 crossed with narrow dusky lines; the quill feathers are dusky ; 

 the tail consists of sixteen Wack feathers, the four middlemost 

 of which are barred with red ; the thighs are a pale red, ob- 

 scurely barred with black ; the legs and feet are clothed down 

 to the claws with thick, soft, white and brown feathers ; the 

 outer and inner toes are connected to the first joint by a small 

 membrane. The female is considerably less than the male, 

 weighing only about fifteen ounces. Her colours in general are 

 less vivid, and she has more of the white and less of the red fea- 

 thers than the male. 



The heathy and mountainous parts of the northern counties 

 of England, are in general stocked with these birJs ; but they 

 abound in the Highlands of Scotland, and are very common in 

 Wales and Ireland. They feed on mountain berries and the 

 tender tops of the heath. 



Grouse pair very early in the spring, and the female lays from 

 eight to twelve or thirteen eggs, in a very simple nest, formed 

 on the ground. The young leave the nest almost as soon as 

 hatched, and continue to follow the hen till the severity of the 

 winter sets in, when they unite in packs of twenty or thirty- 

 brace; They continue together in the greatest harmony till the 

 approach of spring, when they feel the access of genial desire ; 

 the old females then, contrary to what is generally supposed, 

 drive off the young cocks, and a general dispersion takes place : 

 the males view each other with a jealous eye, and furious battle* 

 are the consequence. 



Grouse are very difficult to be netted, owing to the straggling 

 c3 



