The Black Grouse 
21 
4 cocks and 8 hens were liberated. These were followed by successive importations 
through September, October, and November in the same year, to the number of 20 
cocks and 30 hens. In 1903, 14 Blackcocks and 36 Greyhens were released; 
in 1904, 5 Blackcocks and 10 Greyhens ; and in 1907, 6 Blackcocks and 14 
Greyhens ; making a total of 45 Blackcocks and 98 Greyhens. Recently as many 
as 16 Blackgame have been seen together, but many have doubtless strayed away, 
or been killed by foxes. Nevertheless a few nests are found every year, and in 
one season as many as five are known to have hatched off. All the imported birds 
come from Hagenbeck. 
Sussex. — Blackgame as a resident and breeding species may be said to have become 
extinct in 1845, although many isolated females have bred since that date. Mr. Padwick 
of Horsham has told me that about the year 1840 his father used to kill six brace in a 
morning at Coombe Bottom, St. Leonard's Forest ; he himself has shot many in his 
youth about Ashfold. Though still seen and killed annually about Leith Hill, Crowborough, 
Hindhead, until 1870, Blackgame have become very rare. I cannot ascertain that any 
person has shot or seen a specimen in Sussex since 1890. Two attempts at their 
introduction have failed. In Ashdown Forest they nested until 1862. The late Mr. 
Howard Saunders in his Manual of British Birds (p. 493) remarks that Blackgame 
owe their presence in Surrey, Berks, and Sussex to reintroduction early in the nineteenth 
century ; but I think the statement is quite incorrect, and that the species was always 
indigenous in these southern counties. 
Kent. — Extinct, but flourished here in the days of Henry VIII., when it was known 
as " Grows " (Grouse). 
Hants. — Formerly fairly numerous in the New Forest, but now almost extinct. 
Until recently in the Alice Holt Woods near Farnham, and a few in Wolmer Forest. 
Wilts. — Occasional stragglers. Formerly in Winterslow and Ellesbourne Woods 
(Harting) ; also at Redholm, Vale of Pewsey, and Compton Bassett in 1866. 
Norfolk. — Introduction to this county has not met with much success. Mr. H. 
Dalziel Mackenzie has turned out many Blackgame at Thetford ; thirty were imported 
in 1900-1901. " Broods hatch off regularly, but seem to disappear in some unaccountable 
manner, and the numbers, in spite of fresh introductions, steadily decrease." (Heatly 
Noble, British Birds, Sept. 1908, p. 155.) Black Grouse have been seen or introduced 
at various times at Sandringham, Lynn, Snettisham, and Dorsingham. 
Berkshire. — Has been introduced to Windsor and Ascot without success. Occasional 
stragglers from Surrey. 
Shropshire. — Formerly at Whixall Moss and other unreclaimed spaces, now a few 
only on the Cleehills, Corvedale, Church Stretton, Stiperstones, and Clun Forest 
districts. 
Staffordshire. — Abundant on Cannock Chase, where as many as fifty brace in a day 
have been killed by one of the Earl of Lichfield's parties recently. A few are still 
found on the Earl of Crewe's Moors near Macclesfield, and at Swythamley (Leek), where 
I have shot them, but they are a steadily decreasing species in this part of the county. 
They are frequently seen about Needwood Forest, Churtley Moss, Cheadle, and Stone. 
Leicestershire. — Formerly in Charnwood Forest and Sharpley until 1850 (Harting). 
