146 
THE BBO GROUSE. 
It IB well known lhat on all the more southern mnira,, 
not a t^Tith of ihe foimer imiubtr of birds at present 
exist aoti it in otily in the more remote clii, trie- ts, 
where access and aecomniodation for sportsmen are 
in ftome degree wanting, that tliey are to be seen Ui 
any thing like their formtr numhersf. 
The red grouse in plentiful aiill in Scotland and 
Ireland, now more sparingly spread over ilie southern 
districts of ihe former, and upon tlie wilder rauirs of 
England. There also thti hixWm of the birds \mve 
considerably changed. By the approaelies of culti- 
vation to the higljer districts, and in insulatrti patches 
of grairt even in ihe middle of ihe wildest, the {frouse 
have learned to depend on ihe lubonri< ot the hushand- 
raan for his winter's food, anrl instead of seeking a 
more precarious subsisu-jice during the ^now, of len- 
der heath-tops or other mountain plants, they mig-rate 
to the lower grounds and encltisures, and hefors 
the grain is removed, find a plentiful harvest. Hun- 
dreds crowd the sltwtv in the upland corn-fielda 
where the weather U uncertain, and the grain remains 
out even till December snows ; while in the lower 
countries they seek what hm been left on the stubble 
or ploughed fields. It is only in the wildest parts of 
the Hiifhlands, tlje Cairngorum rauge, Hoss, or 
Sutherland, whetn the grouse is an inhabitant through 
the year» of the muira^ bis native pasture, and where 
• In fottner duys, flit? Earl of Stratljniore's pamekeeper, 
for a considcrjU)le bet, undertook to shoot forty brace of 
game upon his LordHhii)''8 muir^i in Yorkehire. By two 
O'clock tie had killed ibrty. three brace. 
