THE COMMOS GROUSE. 51 



when breeding- time approaches. The hen generally builds 

 a nest composed of ling and heather, placed in a slight 

 depression of the ground, and sheltered by a tuft of grass 

 or heather. 



The number of eggs varies considerably, sometimes ten 

 only being found, and in other nests as many as fifteen. 

 These eggs, which are very handsome, differ greatly in 

 colour, but are generally of a light but rich brown, 

 splotched and streaked all over with a rich red brown. 

 The hen sits closely, and has even been taken by the 

 hand rather than desert her nest. When the young are 

 hatched they leave the nest, attended by their mother, who 

 feeds and defends them with most heroic resolution. They 

 continue thus together throughout the year, and are, in fact, 

 always more or less gregarious. The young birds, from 

 their call-note, are termed " cheepers," and are usually 

 allowed grace by true sportsmen. 



The food of the Grouse would appear to be almost 

 entirely vegetable, being chiefly composed of ling and 

 the young shoots of the heather that so plentifully clothes 

 the moors and hills where they dwell ; yet many other 

 tender leaves and grasses are eaten by these birds, and 

 even corn is eaten when sown near their haunts. 



They generally live amongst the heather, either 

 walking about whilst feeding, or basking in the sunshine 

 near some tuft or bush. Their ordinary call-note is a 

 quickly-repeated note, which is best represented by the 

 phrase, " coc, coc;" but, in the spring especially, and 

 otherwise throughout the year, the bold crow of the 

 Grouse, or Moor Cock, as it is also sometimes called, 

 sounds somewhat like the words, " go, go, go-back, go- 

 back/' uttered both as a call of defiance and warning. 



