28 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



fields of rushes and sedges, of bracken and gorse, and clumps of 

 broom and mountain ground fruits relieve the monotony of the 

 otherwise interminable stretches of heath and ling. Here, all the 

 year round, the Red Grouse is the one dominant bird, cherished 

 and protected everywhere with the greatest solicitude for the 

 unrivalled sport it yields. The Red Grouse is a thorough 

 ground bird, although it may occasionally be seen sitting in the 

 stunted willow, birch, and thorn trees, and is very fond of perching 

 on boulders or on the rough " dry " walls that divide the moors 

 from the highways and upland pastures. In spite of the bird's 

 abundance it does not make itself very conspicuous, and the in- 

 experienced observer may wander over miles of moor without 

 seeing many Grouse. They skulk in the heather, and generally 

 prefer to run out of harm's way instead of taking wing. They are 

 wary enough, too, and are ever on the look-out for approaching 

 danger, craning their heads high above the cover, and looking 

 warily about in all directions. When flushed, however, they will 

 be found to fly well and with great speed, although seldom rising 

 very high. Like the Ptarmigan they often skim on stiff arched 

 wings for a long distance over a ridge or bank, and if much 

 disturbed will prolong their flight across a wide valley, or along the 

 hillsides for a mile or more. At all times of the year the Red 

 Grouse is socially inclined, and in autumn becomes to a great 

 extent gregarious ; " packing " towards the end of August, when 

 it becomes more wary and wild. Previous to stormy weather 

 these packs are found on the highest ground; but when the 

 change arrives they seek the sheltered hillsides. During severe 

 snowstorms the Red Grouse will burrow into the snowdrifts for 

 shelter. The note of the Red Grouse is very loud and very 

 characteristic, most frequently heard as the bird rises startled 

 from the heather. It may best be expressed as a loud, clear 

 go-bac go-bac bac-bac-bac. Its crow, heard during the pairing 

 season, and especially in the early morning, is slightly modified 

 into a loud and clear cok-ok-ok. The cry of the female is little 

 more than a low croak. The food of the Red Grouse is chiefly 

 composed of the green tender tops of the ling {Calluna) and 

 the heather {Erica) ; but various ground fruits are eagerly 

 devoured in autumn (the birds' droppings at this season staining 



