438 BRITISH BIRDS. 



eggs. They are yellowish white or buff in ground-colour, spotted with 

 rich brown. These spots vary in size from minute pale specks to rich 

 irregular blotches occasionally as large as a pea. The small spots are 

 generally very numerous, but the larger blotches are few in number and 

 often entirely absent. The shell is minutely pitted and possesses some 

 gloss. The eggs vary in length from 2"1 to 1'9 inch, and in breadth from 

 1"45 to 1"38 inch. Their much larger size, comparatively fewer 

 markings, and buff instead of purplish appearance effectually prevent them 

 being confused with those of the Red Grouse. They more resemble 

 the eggs of the Capercaillie, but are much smaller. Many eggs of the 

 Black Grouse are destroyed in wet seasons by- the nest being placed in 

 low-lying situations or too near water. One brood only is reared in the 

 year. The old female will often reel and tumble as if wounded should her 

 brood be menaced by danger. In some cases the nests are said to contain 

 as many as sixteen eggs, most probably the produce of two hens — a theory 

 which is supported by the fact that sometimes a large brood is seen tended 

 by two females. 



The Black Grouse is an extremely wary bird, skulking amongst the 

 vegetation, and, especially in autumn, lying close until almost trodden upon 

 before rising. Its flight is swift, more so, perhaps, than that of the Red 

 Grouse, but somewhat laboured. When disturbed tbis bird generally flies 

 for a considerable distance, and often at a great height. Another pecu- 

 liarity is its partiality for perching in trees. It may continually be seen 

 in the branches ; and in most districts almost its only roosting-place is in 

 pine, fir, and holly trees. The Black Grouse is quite as much a bird of 

 the forest as_ of the moor, and it feeds much on the buds and flowers of 

 trees. In autumn it is very fond of frequenting bracken, and may 

 sometimes be seen on the stubbles, whilst in spring it often perches on low 

 walls, peat-banks, or rocks. It sometimes leaves its cover for some con- 

 siderable distance ; for Dixon has noticed the male birds in considerable 

 numbers feeding on the bare hill-side, who when alarmed, instead of flying 

 offi to the distant woods, invariably ran off to the tufts of rushes and 

 hid themselves in them. At this season the male birds feed peacefully 

 close to each other. 



The food of the Black Grouse is almost entirely of a vegetable nature, 

 varied according to the season of the year. In summer it feeds upon 

 various seeds and the tender shoots of heath, leaves, and also insects of 

 different kinds, including ants and their eggs, on which latter food the 

 young are almost exclusively fed. In autumn its food is still more 

 varied ; the various wild fruits of the moor and mountain-side are eaten 

 in immense quantities — bilberries, cranberries, juniper-berries, together 

 with the berries of the guelder-rose and mountain-ash. It feeds largely on 

 grain, and searches the stubbles near its haunts for barley, oats, and wheat. 



