202 CASSELL'S book OF BIRDS. 



Vacciiiiiim myrtil/us, zr\d VaMnium Ti/isiiicea. In two instances I have found its crop filled with 

 oat-seeds, to which it is said to be very partial, although it rarely ventures upon cultivated land. 

 While feeding, it walks among the heath, selecting the fresh tips of the twigs, which it breaks oii 

 nearly of the same size, the largest pieces not exceeding half an inch in length. Along with these 

 substances, fragments of white quartz, from one-twelfth to two-twelfths of an inch in diameter, are 

 found in the crop and gizzard, being introduced for the purpose of aiding the action of the latter in 

 comminuting the food. When the Brown Ptarmigans have filled their crops they repose among the 

 heath or bask under a sunny bank, under the shelter of the shrubs or tufts of herbage. On ordinary 

 occasions this species does not fly much, but keeps concealed among the heath, seldom choosing to 

 rise, unless its enemy comes very near. On the approach of danger it lies close to the ground, when, 

 being of a colour not contrasting strongly with that of the plants around, it is with difficulty perceived 

 by rapacious birds." When traced by a dog, it either rans to some distance or squats at once, and 

 often remains thus concealed for a long time, or again runs and squats. " I have seen them," continues 

 Macgillivray, " run in this manner for four or five hundred yards before they were put up. On such 

 occasions the male is generally the first to rise. He erects himself among the heath, stretches out 

 his neck, utters a loud cackle, and flies off, followed by the female and young, affording by their 

 straightforward, heavy, though strong flight an easy mark to a good shot." 



The Red Grouse flies low, heavily, and in a direct course, moving its wings rapidly, sometimes, 

 especially when at full speed, with a whirring sound, and then descending with almost motionless 

 pinions. 



" If disturbed when feeding," says Macgillivray, " the male often boldly starts up and utters a 

 loud cackle, which may be imitated by quickly repeating the syllable ' kok ' with a deep voice. In 

 spring and summer they are often heard uttering the same sound without being disturbed, either as a 

 call of defiance to their fellows, or as a warning or protection to their mates and young. Early in the 

 morning as well as late in the evening, but occasionally through the day, you may hear on the moors 

 a loud cry, which is easily syllabled into ' Go, go, go, go, go-back, go-back ;' although the Celts, 

 naturally imagining the Moor Cock to speak Gaelic, interpret it as signifying, ' Co, co, co, co, 

 mo-claidh, mo-claidh' — that is, 'Who, who (goes there?) my sword! my sword !'" These birds pair 

 early in spring. The nest is made in a hollow of the ground among the heath, and is irregularly 

 formed of bits of twigs, grass, and a few feathers ; the eggs, from eight to twelve in number, are oval, 

 and of a yellowish white, yellowish grey, or brownish yellow colour, clouded, blotched, and dotted 

 with blackish and amber brown. The young leave the nest soon after they are hatched, and are 

 tended by both parents, the mother showing much anxiety for her progeny, and endeavouring by 

 affecting lameness to lure any intruder from them. The young are soon able to fly, and all keep 

 together till the end of autumn, when several flocks unite and form a pack, continuing together till 

 spring arrives, when they separate and pair. In the more remote parts of Scotland the Red Grouse 

 is considered a bird of good omen. By its crowing at dawn, the evil spirits of night are thought to be 

 put to flight, or deprived of their power. The flesh of the Red Grouse is dark, and 1ms a peculiar, 

 bitter flavour, but is held in high estimation. 



The PARTRIDGES {Perdices), one of the most numerous groups of the order, are comparatively 

 slenderly built birds, with small heads and unfeathered tarsi. The wings, in which the third or 

 fourth quill exceeds the rest in length, are relatively quite as short and rounded, but not so much 

 arched as those of the Telraones. The tail, composed of from twelve to sixteen feathers, is always 

 short. The somewhat elongated beak is but slightly raised at its culmen, and compressed at its sides. 

 The tarsus is frequently furnished with one, or occasionally with two spurS; The members of this 



