XCIII. 

 TETRAO SCOTICUS. (Lath. 



Red Grouse, Moor Game. 



The eggs of the grouse, in depth and richness of colouring, 

 are unrivalled by those of any other British bird, and occupy 

 in consequence a prominent place in our cabinets, to which 

 they are a beautiful ornament. The Red Grouse, which has 

 hitherto been met with only on the British Islands, breeds on 

 most of the high heathy moors of this country, especially in 

 the North of England, and the Highlands of Scotland : it is 

 abundant, too, on most of the Western Islands, and is met 

 with sparingly, I believe, also in Orkney ; but, what is sin- 

 gular, has never been seen in Shetland, though at so short a 

 distance. It begins to breed early in April, and makes its 

 nest (when any) in a tuft of heather, gathering together a few 

 pieces of heath and some dry grass. The eggs are from eight 

 to twelve in number, and present many beautiful and strongly 

 contrasted varieties : this is peculiarly striking in eggs of the 

 same laying, those represented at Figs. 1 and 2 having been 

 taken from the same nest. 



The Grouse continue together in broods during the Autumn 

 and Winter months, and seem to be strongly attached to each 

 other. I have seen them (at a time when they were wild 

 and difficult to obtain) closely pursued by the sportsman; 

 and, though running at a short distance, with outstretched 

 necks and on the alert, and when I have expected them to 

 rise every moment, yet delay their flight, unwilling to leave 

 some straggler, till they have allowed themselves to be ap- 

 proached within gun-shot. 



Fig. 1 represents the most common variety ; Fig. 2 occurs 

 not unfrequently ; Fig. 3 much less so. 



