40 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



Practically there is but one species confined to the 

 moors all the year round, absolutely indigenous to 

 them, and found in no other localities. This is the 

 famous Red Grouse, a species familiar by name if 

 not by appearance to most people. The abundance 

 of this bird in the game-dealers' shops from the I2th 

 of August onwards to the middle of December ren- 

 ders it familiar enough with the multitude; but com- 

 paratively few people know the bird in life amidst 

 its wild and breezy upland haunts. Not that it is a 

 species that takes much finding, or that secretes itself 

 in the remoter parts of its wild home; it is obtrusive 

 enough, by no means shy, and may generally be seen 

 in plenty from the highways. Very frequently half 

 a dozen or more Grouse may be seen sitting upon 

 the top of the rough stone walls that separate the 

 heath from the road; tame enough, too, to allow an 

 observer to approach them within a few paces before 

 they take wing with noisy cries and hide themselves 

 among the brown heath. Or again, the wanderer 

 over the moors who keeps a sharp look-out may 

 detect plenty of Grouse among the heather, craning 

 their necks above the vegetation, ready to fly off 

 to safer quarters if too deeply alarmed. Then, in 

 spring especially, their very peculiar and unmistak- 

 able notes never fail to arrest the attention; and not 

 unfrequently the birds will startle one as they rise, 

 calling loudly, from the herbage at our very feet by 



