214 THE BLACK GROUSE 



tcikes up his position on the most elevated spot, crowing and strut- 

 ting round and round with spread-out tail like a Turkey Cock, and 

 his wings trailing on the ground. The hens remain quietly near 

 him, whilst the smaller or younger male birds keep at a respectful 

 distance, neither daring to crow, except in a subdued kind of voice, 

 nor to approach. If they attempt the latter, the master-bird 

 dashes at the intruder, and often a short melee ensues, several others 

 joining in it, but they soon return to their former respectful distance. 

 I have also seen an old Black Cock crowing on a birch-tree with a 

 dozen hens below it, and the younger Cocks looking on with fear 

 and admiration. It is at these times that numbers fall to the share 

 of the poacher, who knows that the birds resort to the same spot 

 every morning.' 



The food of these birds is abundant in quantity, and though 

 simple, yet partakes of an extensive assortment of flavours. Twigs 

 of the fine-leaved heath {Erica cinerea), and heather (Calluna) ; 

 buds of the willow and birch ; the tender shoots of cotton-grass, 

 sedge, and grass ; and whortleberries, cranberries, and crowberries, 

 are the principal items of their bUl of fare, varied according to the 

 season. In the months of February, March and AprU, they do much 

 mischief to plantations by destroying the tender shoots of Scotch 

 and Silver Fir. ' In searching for food, the Black Grouse frequents 

 the lower grounds of the less-cultivated districts, not generally 

 removing far from the shelter of woods or thickets, to which it be- 

 takes itself as occasion requires. It sometimes makes an excursion 

 into the stubble-fields in search of the seeds of cereal plants, and in 

 siunmer and autumn includes those of the grasses and rushes. 

 While thus employed, it walks and runs among the herbage with 

 considerable agility, and, when apprehensive of danger, flies ofE to 

 a sheltered place, or settles down and remains motionless until the 

 intruder passes by. It perches adroitly, and walks securely on 

 the branches ; but its ordinary station is on the ground, where also 

 it reposes at night. It may often, especially in spring, be seen 

 on the turf-top of the low walls inclosing plantations. Its flight is 

 heavy, direct, and of moderate velocity, and is capable of being 

 protracted to a great distance.' ^ 



The Grey Hen constructs a rude nest of withered grass and a few 

 twigs in the shelter of some low bush, and lays from five to ten eggs. 

 The male bird takes no part in the bringing up of the brood, but 

 leaves the duties of incubation and attention to the wants of his 

 family to the hen, who devotes herself whoUy to the careful nurture 

 of her little ones. While the poults are in their nonage, she assidu- 

 ously leads them about where food is most abundant ; and if sur- 

 prised by an intruder, leaves them to hide among the heath and 

 ferns, creeps rapidly herself to some distance, and then rises in a 

 fluttering maimer, so that a stranger to her habits would suppose 



^ Macgillivray. 



