RED GROUSE. 125 
RED GROUSE. 
Lagopus scorious, Lath. 
Pl. XVIII, figs. 4, 5. 
Geogr. distr.—Heathy districts of Great Britain: breeds in the 
ae counties of England, in Scotland, Wales, and many parts of 
reland. 
Food.—Tender tops of heath and species of Arbwéus, berries, and 
grain. 
Nest.—A mere shallow cavity scratched in the ground, lined with 
grasses, heather twigs, or any rubbish that may chance to fall in. 
Position of nest.—Usually in long heather. 
Number of eggs.—T-8; if more, they are probably the product of 
more than one pair. 
Time of nidification.—III-VI. 
‘‘The Red Grouse, which has hitherto been met with only 
in the British Islands, breeds on most of the high, heathy 
moors of this country, especially those in the north of 
England and the Highlands of Scotland. It is abundant 
also on most of the Western Islands, and is met with 
sparingly in Orkney, but has never been found in Shetland.” 
—(Hewitson’s Illust. Eggs Brit. Birds, vol. ii, p. 235.) 
The moors on which this species breeds are, however, 
strictly preserved, and therefore special permission must be 
obtained before one can collect upon them. 
Mr. Seebohm observes, ‘‘In an average year most nests 
will contain seven or eight eggs. Birds which breed late 
on the high ground do not seem to lay fewer eggs than 
those which breed early in the more sheltered situations. 
The sitting bird does not easily forsake her eggs. You 
may watch her daily as she sits upon them ; you may even 
catch her eye without frightening her away. You may 
gend her off cok-cok-cokking in alarm, by accidentally almost 
stumbling over the nest; and you may handle the eggs 
without much danger of causing her to “forsake.” Game- 
keepers are always very anxious to impress upon trespassers 
the fact that it is of the utmost importance not to disturb 
the birds during the breeding-season. The real truth is, 
that if strangers were allowed on the moors at this season 
of the year the danger would be, not that the birds would 
forsake the eggs, but that the eggs would forsake the birds.” 
—(Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. ii., p. 480.) 
The Red Grouse is monogamous, and assists the hen 
bird to feed the young. 
