BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
THE BLACK GROUSE. Tetrao tetrix, Linn^us. 
Local names— Heathcock ; Blackcock (of the male); 
Heathhen ; Greyhen (of the female) ; Blackgame ; Black- 
fowl ; Heathfowl ; Heathpoult ; Black. 
" And if up a bonnie Blackcock should spring, 
To whustle him down wi' a slug in his wmg, 
And strap him on to my lunsie* strmg, 
Right seldom would I fail." » 77 ^ 
Old Dumfriesshire Ballad. 
A common resident throughout the upper portions of the county. 
At the end of the eighteenth century this species, probably 
from lack of protection, seems to have been decreasmg. 
The foUowing is reported in 1793 from Sanquhar : Black 
game are more rarely to be met with than formerly, owing 
in part, perhaps, to the woods being cut, but chiefly to the 
devastation of poachers, who favoured by a wide range of 
uninhabited country, load themselves with booty, and 
frequently escape with impunity."! From Closeburn m 
1794 comes the following: "The moors in this parish 
used to abound with black-fowl, ... but have become 
scarce."! About the same date they are stated to be 
"in great plenty in different quarters of ^he parish ot 
Langholm "§ and the woods upon Tarras are said to be the 
haunt of the Blackcock.|| In 1792 it was stated that this 
species had sometimes been seen in the west of Jonnstone 
parish, and, the account goes on to say, " we are likely to 
* Wallet. 
t Stat. Acct. Scot., Vol. VI., p. 459. 
% Op. cit.. Vol. XIII., p. 243. 
§ Op. cit.. Vol. XIII., p. 597. 
II Op. cit.. Vol. XIV., p. 413. 
