50 
TETRAONID^. 
off. PortunatelV;, this bird breeds a second time^ if the first nest 
be destroyed. 
The grouse is occasionally subject to variety in colour. One 
shot in November 1826 by the Hev. Lord Edward Cbichesterj 
near Doagh, in the county of Antrim^ was pure white^ with the 
exception of the two outer primaries^ and an equal number of the 
feathers of the greater wing-coverts^ which remained unchanged. 
It was a large and healthy-looking bird. 
Eor the fact that the grouse is a good bird for the table^ we have 
no less an authority than that of the illustrious John Locke ! In 
the life of this philosopher by his descendant. Lord King, are 
directions, &c. from Locke, apparently addressed to some foreigner 
about to visit England, one sentence of which is — Kailes and 
heath-poUs, ruffs and reeves, are excellent meat wherever they can 
be met with."’^ — Page 134. 
My friend John Sinclaire, Esq. of Belfast, who has been a 
regular grouse-shooter for upw^ards of sixty years, has not only 
found grouse, occasionally in stubble and grass fields a mile distant 
from the mountain heath about Ballantrae, Ayrsliire, but has 
sprung them from the heath growing in plantations of young 
trees about fifteen feet in height. He attributes the scarcity of 
grouse in many places to the increase of sheep pasturing. The 
nests of this bird are trodden on by the sheep : the burning of 
the heath on account of the latter, even if practised at a proper 
season, deprives the grouse of shelter for some years ; and by its 
frequently being carried into execution in the early spring, 
destroys their eggs. Where horned cattle are pastured, grouse 
are considered to be as numerous as ever. The black game, breed- 
ing as it does in marshy places, is not subjected to the casualties 
just noticed ; hence one reason of the decrease of the former, and 
increase of the latter, in some districts. Erom the manner in 
which a pack of grouse springs, it is rarely that more than 
two fall to the one barrel, and when three do so, it is considered 
extraordinary. Before the gun of my friend — an excellent shot 
— this number has fallen ; he has twice obtained, by a double 
