I 



1 80 



FLIGHT OF GROUSE, 



The surmises of my attendant in reference to the 

 Pentland Hills being the starting-point of these 

 grouse, I did not doubt, but for some of them to 

 have come all the way from Fifeshire, I certainly 

 was sceptical of. Others I know have had similar 

 experiences to the above. Partial migrations of 

 win'^ed game, under certain atmospheric influences, 

 are not unknown, and why grouse should not 

 perform them I cannot see, for they are decidedly a 

 very powerful bird upon the wing. How about 

 landrails, which are so abundant early in summer 

 in the North of Ireland ? To the Continent of 

 Europe they return in autumn, and to accomplish 

 this must traverse two broad arms of the sea, yet it 

 is well known that no weaker bird on the wing 

 exists. 



We are all too prone to jump at decisions in 

 reference to the habits of wild animals, and to form 

 hasty conclusions of their powers of endurance, or 

 want of the same. This is simply the result of 

 ignorance and not availing oneself of opportunities 

 afforded for study. Moreover, all men have a craving 

 after the mysterious, the inexplicable, the incompre- 

 hensible, and would sooner to one of these three 

 attribute what they do not understand than take the 

 trouble to unravel the mysteries by research. Unless 

 it can be proved to the contrary, I am perfectly 

 satisfied that a mature grouse, when in perfect health, 

 can travel twenty, or even many more, miles upon 

 the wing, if it desired or was compelled to do so. 



