242 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH INLAND BIRDS 
in their summer plumage the two birds are very 
much alike. In winter, however, the Willow 
Grouse turns almost entirely white. Our British 
Grouse is found in Scotland, Wales, the northern 
and north-western counties of England, and (unlike 
the Blackcock) in Ireland ; but it is not found in 
the west and south of England. The cock Grouse 
is larger than the hen, and is a good deal darker 
in colour. This is a species which pairs, and pair- 
ing often takes place some time before the end of 
winter ; early in April the nest is hollowed in the 
ground among the roots of the heather, and lined 
with a slight layer of heather-stems and dry grass. 
Eight to ten or even more eggs are laid ; they are 
creamy white in ground-colour, thickly marked with 
large spots of rich chestnut, or dark brown. The 
alarm note of the cock, when he considers that 
danger threatens the nesting place, is a loud, re- 
peated crowing noise, often delivered from some 
conspicuous perch on a wall, stone, or hillock. The 
food of the Grouse chiefly consists of the young 
shoots of the heather, and various species of low- 
growing berries commonly found on the moorlands. 
Severe weather and deep snow make them come 
further and further down from the lofty moors to 
those on lower land, and their haunts during the 
succeeding breeding season are determined to a 
considerable extent by the direction of these wan- 
