LAG-OPUS SOOTICUS. 
KED GROUSE. 
TETRAO SOOTICUS. Lath., Ind. Ornith., vol. ii., p. 641, sp. 15.— Selby, Brit. Omitb., pi. xix.— Lewin’s Brit. Birds, t. 136.— Mont., 
Ornitb. Diet, and Supp., vol. i. — Bewick’s Brit. Birds, vol. i., p. 351. — Graves, Brit. Ornitb., vol. ii. — Jenyns, Man. B. Vert. 
Anim., p. 170. 
LA GELINOTE D’:^COSSE. Briss., 1, p. 199, 5, t. 22, f. 1. 
TETRAO LAGOPUS. Gmel., Syst. Nat., vol. i., p. 750. Var. 7 and 8. 
POULE DE MARAIS GROUS. Cuv., Reg. Anim., vol. i., p. 450. 
TETRAS ROUGE. Temm., Man. d’Ornitb., vol. i., p. 465. 
LAGOPUS ALTERA. Albin., vol. i., p. 356. 
RED GROUSE. Penn., Brit. Zool., 1, No. 94, t. 43.— Latb., Syn., 4, p. 746, and Supp., p. 216.— Morris, Nat. Hist._ Brit. Birds, vol. ii., p. 
342, pi. 171. — ^Yarr., Brit. Birds, 2 edit., vol. ii., p. 351. 
RED GAME, MOOR COCK. Raii., Syn., p. 54. — ^Will. (Ang.), p. 177. 
TETRAO SALICETI SOOTICUS. Scbleg., Rev. Crit. des Ois. d’Eur., p. 76. 
OREIAS SOOTICUS. Kaup., Naturl. Syst., p. 177. 
BON ASA SOOTICUS. Briss., Ornitb., vol. i., p. 199. 
LAGOPUS SOOTICUS. Gould, Birds of Eur., pi. 252. — Gray, Gen. of Ends, vol. iii.^ — MacGdl, Brit. Birds, vol. i., p. 169. — Leacb, Syst. 
Oat. Mam. and Birds Brit. Mus., p. 27. — VieiU., Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., xviii., p. 206. — Stepb., Gen. Zool., vol. xi., p. 293. — 
Flem., Brit. Zool. p. 43. — Eyton, Cat. Brit. Birds, p. 30. — ^Bon., Geog. & Comp. List of Birds, p. 44. — Gray, Cat. Birds Brit. 
Mus., Part III., p. 142 (1850). — Bon., Rev. Ornitb. Eur., p. 174. 
The Red Grouse, Moor Cock, Red Game, Scotch Grouse, by aU of which appellations this species is known, is an inhabitant of the 
British Isles. It is found in considerable numbers in various parts of England, Wales, and Ireland, but nowhere in such abimdance as 
among the Highlands of Scotland. They love the moors covered with the purple heather, and resort chiefly to those tracts lying between 
the lofty haunts of the Ptarmigan and the lower, more wooded lands, where the Black Grouse are found. 
This species is monogamous, the female laying from eight to twelve eggs ; and during incubation, which is performed by her alone, 
the male keeps a vigUant watch at a short distance, waiting the aj)pearance of the young to assist his mate in bringing up their family. 
The Carrion Crow is said to hunt the moors at this period for the nests, and makes great havoc among their contents, whenever 
successful in finding them, even persecuting and sometimes killing the young chicks. 
The Red Grouse has many enemies, from whose daring attacks it often has no little difficulty in escaping. Among the principal 
depredators, may be mentioned the Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and Common Buzzard. 
Various kinds of berries and grasses constitute the food of the Moor Cock, and it is also very partial to oats and corn, and wiU 
feed to excess upon these whenever they are grown near its haunts. The fresh twigs of the heath also are eaten by it, the tips being 
broken off in small pieces. 
The season for “Grouse shooting” commences about the middle of August, and the number of birds which are killed annually is so 
large, that one would suppose the species must become extinct in a very few years; yet they appear to suffer very little diminution. 
To see the Scotch Grouse in his native home, one must go to the Highlands, and traverse the moors, which stretch away for miles 
on every side ; and there, in the early morning, the male will be heard, perched upon some hillock, uttering his chaUenge-cry. 
The following lines, known as the “ Grouse-Shooter’s Call,” well describe the scene : 
“ Come, where the heather hell, 
Child of the Highland dell, 
Breathes its coy fragrance o’er moorland and lea ; 
Gayly the fountain sheen 
Leaps from the mountain green — 
Come to our Highland home, blithesome and free ! 
“ See ! through the gloaming 
The young morn is coming. 
Like a bridal veil round her the silver mist curled ; 
Deep as the ruby’s rays, 
Bright as the sapphire’s blaze. 
The banner of day in the east is unfurled. 
“The Bed Grouse is scattering 
Dews from his golden wing, 
Gemmed with the radiance that heralds the day ; 
Peace in our Highland vales. 
Health in our mountain gales — 
Who would not hie to the moorlands away ? 
“ Par from the haunts of man 
Mark the gray Ptarmigan, 
Seek the lone Moor Cock, the pride of our dells ; 
Birds of the wilderness 
Here in their resting place, 
’Mid the brown heath where the mountain roe dwells. 
“ Come, then ; the heather bloom 
Woos with its wild perfume, 
Pragrant and blithesome thy welcome shall be ; 
Gayly the fountain sheen 
Leaps from the mountain green — 
Come to our home of the moorland and lea ! ” 
The voice of tbe Red Grouse is loud ; and few, wbo have ever crossed tbe moors, but have heard his cackling note, resembling 
/toit, quickly repeated. This sound is chiefly uttered when the birds are disturbed ; at other times they emit a loud cry which, as 
