Rep Grovs. GALLINA. TETRAO. 309 
the latter part of autumn, and through the winter ; and when 
thus associated become very wild, not easily to be approached 
by the gun within killing distance.—The food of this species Food. 
consists of the tender tops of the heaths, the fruit of the crow- 
berry, trailing arbutus, and cranberry ; and I have found them 
occasionally upon the oat stubbles, where arable land has hap- 
pened to approach the boundary of their heathy haunts. In 
the Highlands of Scotland during the months of August and 
September, the slaughter of the red grous is immense ; but 
the great care bestowed upon their protection through the 
rest of the year, and the comparatively small number requi- 
site to replenish the stock, owing to the numerous broods de- 
rived from each pair, is at present a sufficient guarantee 
against the final extinction of a species, which, as the pecu- 
liar property of our islands, should be most carefully conti- 
nued. 
The red grous is more easily tamed and kept in confine- 
_ ment than the preceding one, and has been known to breed 
in that state*. They feed readily upon oats, meal, &c. but 
thrive better when frequently supplied with turfs of heath. 
Varieties of a cream colour, or with different degrees of Varieties. 
white, are often met with ; and there has for many years ex- 
isted, upon the moors of Blanchland, in the county of Dur- 
ham, a cream-coloured or light grey variety, spotted more or 
less with dark brown and black; but, from the anxiety of 
sportsmen to procure specimens, these birds have not been 
allowed to increase, as they otherwise, in all probability, 
would have done. 
Piate 59. Fig. 1. Male bird. Natural size. 
Bill black ; half hidden by the small feathers that cover the General 
nostrils. Above the eyes is a naked fringed skin of pesene z 
a bright scarlet colour. Inrides chesnut-brown. Orbits 
of the eyes, and a small patch at the posterior angles of 
* See Monr. Supp. to Ornith. Dict. art. Red Grous. 
