BIRDS. *27l 
THE RED GROUSE. (Lagopus Scoticus.) 
High on exulting wing the Heath-Cock rose, 
And blew his shrill blast o'er perennial snows. 
ROGERS. 
THIS bird is called by some of the ornithologists the Moor- 
Cock, and by others lied Game. The beak is black and 
short ; over the eyes there is a bare skin of a bright red. The 
general colour of the plumage is red and black, variegated, 
and intermixed with each other, except the wings, which 
are brownish, spotted with red, and the tail, which is black ; 
the legs are covered with long thick feathers down to the 
very toes. It is common in the north of England, in 
Scotland, and in Wales ; and not only affords great diver- 
sion to the noblemen and gentlemen of those countries 
who are fond of shooting, but also repays them well for 
their trouble, as the flesh is very delicate, and holds on 
our table an equal place with the partridge and the phea- 
sant. In winter they are usually found in flocks of some- 
times fifty to one hundred in number, which are termed 
by sportsmen packs, and become remarkably shy and 
wild, seldom allowing the shooter to approach them within 
one hundred yards. They keep near the summits of the 
