THE RED GROUSE. 127 



son, Esq., of Rathfarnham, county of Dublin, kept " watch 

 and ward" for thirteen long years, and never allowed the 

 " entree" to any stranger without challenging as high 

 and haughty as if he were the true chatelain of the castle. 

 Another male bird, in the possession of W. M. Patten, Esq., 

 became so familiar as to follow that gentleman outside the 

 house in his walks, challenging in like manner any stranger 

 upon the high road. 



Few have heard or attached such pleasure to the wild, in- 

 spiriting call or challenge of the grouse, as the naturalist and 

 sportsman, uttered so loud and unexpectedly as he rises, that 

 steady indeed are the nerves of that tyro who succeeds in 

 knocking over the first old bird that whirrs up before him, 

 fluttering and screaming as he hurries past. 



Many as are the various incidents replete with interest at- 

 tendant upon grouse- shoo ting, occurring to the sportsman, one 

 habit of the grouse is most beautiful, that witnessed when 

 the old cock runs before the dogs, his neck protruded to the 

 utmost, and his curved wings stiffly extended like sails on 

 either side, presenting an appearance of courageous prudence 

 rather than natural fear. 



We had once the pleasure of observing a male bird of this 

 species in a most amusing manner. Proceeding along a 

 mountain bridle-path closely fringed with heather, we stood 

 to observe a place where there had been some apparent mo- 

 tion ; suddenly up rose a scarlet -crested head, and a neck of 

 such exceeding length as to induce the belief of a new spe- 

 cies. Down and up again, his grouseship seemed wondering 

 at our impudence in intruding upon his territory, until, wearied 

 and in evident disgust, he challenged and flew off*. The 

 sound of its common cry we might syllable by the words : 

 " Go, go, go, go back, goo back ;" a remark made by all 

 its describers. According to Macgillivray, the " gor-cock" 

 being the bird of the Highlands, the Celt naturally imagines 

 he recognizes Gaelic in the sound, and interprets the words 

 " Co, co, co, co, mo chlaidh, mo chlaidh," which is " Who, 

 who" (goes there), "my sword, my sword." If the language 

 be really Gaelic, which we do not dispute, still the call of the 

 grouse with us is represented as equally heroic. 



Indigenous. 



