114 GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 



the changes of weather, and even lay down rules what 

 parts of the mountain they frequent according to its 

 variations. I have watched them narrowly for many 

 years, and am firmly of opinion that they only shift to 

 the longest heather on the lee side of any knolls near 

 their usual haunts, when they want shelter from the sun, 

 wind, or rain. When they become strong on the wing, 

 and the weather is cold or boisterous, they will shift 

 from one mountain-face to its opposite counterpart, to 

 avoid the cold and take advantage of the sunshine, pro- 

 vided the distance does not much exceed their ordinary 

 flight. This, I think, they never willingly do at the 

 beginning of a season. I have likewise heard it 

 asserted that grouse descend the hills to feed : this I 

 also believe to be erroneous; and have no doubt that, at 

 feeding times, they only move to the first short sweet 

 patch of young heather, the tender tops of which form 

 their chief food during a great part of the year except 

 indeed in winter, when many of them come' down to 

 lower ground than they ever frequent at other times. 

 The young poults eat the seeds of the various grasses and 

 weeds that grow in the moors, and are particularly fond of 

 sorrel. At the hatching-time, the hen devours quantities of 

 earth-worms with great avidity. 



BLACK -GAME 



Black-game do not pair like grouse ; and shooting 

 the hen and young birds at the beginning of the season 



