4 
EED GROUSE. 
space. Shags, Black Guillemots, and Rock-Pigeons, with a few pairs of Rock-Pipits, were, with the exceptioa 
of those already named, the sole occupants of these desolate quarters. 
So many writers have stated their convictions that the stock of winged game on our moors has been 
diminished and the health of the survivors impaired by the killing down of birds and beasts of prey, that 
a few lines with reference to the suliject may not be out of place. My own experiences with regard to 
the habits of those that are by some condemned as tbe Avorst offenders (placed erroneously, in many 
instances, on the vermin list) are also given. Golden Eagles, I am of opinion, cause little damage to 
Grouse, where hares, rabbits, and lambs (dead or alRe) may bo readily obtained ; noAV and then I have 
obsei’A^ed one make a swoop at a Avounded bird, but never Avitnessed those that Avere uninjured selected 
for attack. The Sea-Eagle, having noAV been banished from the majority of its inland breeding-haunts, 
passes the greater part of its time in the neighbourhood of the coast, and feeding principally on lambs, 
stranded fish, and other offal may be held perfectly blameless Avith regard to the Grouse, not tbe signs 
of a feather or even a bleached skeleton having ever been detected near their nests ; the immature birds 
that a foAV years back used to winter on the open moors about Glcnlyon, Rannoch, and seA'eral of tbe 
more nortbern stratlis Avere, Avhen roused from the hill-side, invariably found to be feeding on dead and 
putrid sheep or other carrion. It is not to be denied that Peregrines destroy large numbers of Grouse, 
frequently striking down birds for the mere love of slaughter. Though it is certainly advisable tliat their 
numbers should be restricted, I should bo sorry to see this bold and dashing robber banished from our 
hills. Kites, though formerly abundant, are noAV seldom to be met Avith, unless in a foAV of the deer- 
forests, Avhero fir-AVOods coA^er the hill-sides. Beneath a single tree to Avhich a pair resorted I counted 
over a score of carcasses of Grouse, many almost fresh and the remainder Aveatlier-beaton skeletons ; the 
greater number, however, I fully believe, had either suffered from disease or fallen from the stroke of the 
relentless Peregrine. I am Avell aAA'are that Kites Avill stray to long distances from their breeding-quarters, 
but have seldom observed them hunting over the open treeless moors that form the favourite feeding- 
grounds of the Grouse. Against either the Ilen-IIarrier or Merlin, both of Avhicli breed out on the 
open moors, I can bring no charges based on personal observations ; the fact that a Greyhen, on one 
occasion, selected a spot for rearing her young Avithiu six or eight feet of the nest in Avhich the eggs 
of a Harrier Avere on the point of hatching, must be regarded as evidence in favour of the latter species. 
The thievish propensities of the Sparrow-IIaAvk ha\'e been dilated on by endless writers ; my OAvn obser- 
vations, hoAvever, taken during several years’ Avanderings in the Highlands, scarcely assist in confirming 
the bad character usually ascribed to this handsome bird. lie is doubtless a dashing robber, but I have 
yet to learn that game in the north buffers to any great extent from his attacks. A fcAV Ring-Ouzels 
with noAV and then a Lark and a constant supply of Pipits formed the greater portion of the food 
discovered on the nests examined. A male and female I secured as specimens, and Avhose brood is 
figured in ‘ Rough Notes,’ were each shot Avithin a fcAV minutes of one anotlier, Avith a Meadowy-Pipit 
in their talons, Avhile attempting to reach their young before it AA^as fairly light. The pairs Avhose opera- 
tions I Avatched were for the most part residents in plantations situated on Avide- stretching moorlands, 
Avhere both Grouse and Snipe Avere plentiful ; still no signs of their misdeeds could be ascertained. 
Exceedingly unsuspicious of danger and easily allured by a bait. Buzzards are rapidly disappearing 
throughout the northern counties of the Highlands. I remarked in almost every instance, wyherc their 
breeding-quarters Avere inspected, that the adjacent ledges, as Avell as the grassy mounds and slopes in the 
vicinity, Avere strewn Avith castings or the remains of their food, the fleck of blue hai’es or rabbits 
plainly indicating the nature of their prey. No feathers or bones of birds having been detected, I am 
unable to bring forward any eAudence to proA'e that the presence of these interesting birds is undesirable 
on the moors. Though the Kestrel has been declared in several instances to carry off the downy young 
