296 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



The Red Grouse of Britain is an indigenous 

 game-bird, and is found nowhere else in a wild 

 state ; though it is probably only the local 

 representative of the white Willow-grouse of 

 Northern Europe. It is somewhat strange, 

 that a bird with such a limited range as the 

 former should be almost wholly dependent 

 upon one or two wiry shrubs for its sustenance. 

 These are both mountain or moorland plants, 

 generally known as heather ; the one the com- 

 mon Ling {Calluna\ the other the purple Heath 

 {Erica). 



Young Grouse just hatched find their choicest 

 food in the extreme ends of ling and fine- 

 leaved heather; and so great an influence has 

 different varieties of food upon the birds as 

 to change the colour of their plumage. Grouse 

 which are found feeding upon old heather are 

 almost black, whilst those with a supply of 

 young purple shoots are much more brightly 

 plumaged. So great is the variation, that many 

 birds have peculiar local characteristics. Thus 

 it is said that Grouse from the Hebrides and 

 Wigtonshire are smaller and lighter than those 

 from eastern moors ; Perthshire birds are smaller 

 and darker than those of Argyllshire; whilst 



