OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 29 



the rocks dark purple) as well as the seeds of weeds ; whilst 

 during harvest and severe weather the birds will visit oat stubbles 

 and even stack-yards at some distance from their usual haunts. 

 I have known Red Grouse to be taken in the streets of Sheffield 

 during severe winters, and great numbers to be shot on farms 

 and near dwelling-houses several miles from the moorlands. 

 Little need be said concerning Grouse-shooting. The sport 

 yielded by driven Grouse is certainly not equalled by any other 

 winged game; and the man who can satisfactorily account for 

 his cartridges after an hour or so's shooting from the "butts" 

 at birds that thunder by like sky-rockets need not be afraid to 

 boast of his prowess. Enormous bags are sometimes made 

 both over dogs and at the butts. The Red Grouse is singularly 

 subject to what may well be termed a mysterious disease, seeing 

 that its causes and nature are most imperfectly understood. 

 Space forbids its discussion here ; but I might just remark that in 

 the opinion of an old gamekeeper friend of mine this disease is 

 very closely connected with the moulting of the birds. I offer 

 this merely as a hint to investigators. On the other hand, over- 

 stocking of moors, both with birds and with sheep, causes a short 

 food supply, and brings the Grouse low in condition, and less 

 likely to withstand incipient disease. Several attempts have been 

 made to introduce the Red Grouse in some of the eastern and 

 southern counties — at Sandringham, Holt, and other places. It 

 is said that of fourteen brace turned out at Sandringham in 1878, 

 enough remained to produce three broods in 1881. The small 

 extent of moorland in these places seems fatal to the success of 

 the efforts. 



Nidifiication. — The Red Grouse is monogamous, and pairs 

 early in the spring. At this period the cock-birds stand on some 

 bit of rising ground and crow defiance to their rivals and invita- 

 tion to the hens, sometimes accompanying this call by jumping 

 into the air or flapping their wings. Once paired, however, there 

 is no evidence to show that the cock ever mates with more than 

 one hen. The nest is slight enough, always on the ground, 

 either among the ling and heath, under the shelter of a boulder, 

 or even amongst grass and rushes. Sometimes it is made in most 

 frequented places, a yard or so from the highway or footpath ; 



