272 A DESCRIPTION OF 
heathy hills, and seldom descend to the lower grounds. 
Here they feed on the mountain berries, and on the tender 
tops of the heath. The hen lays seven or eight eggs of a 
reddish black colour. 
Besides the Red Grouse, there are the following of the 
same species, but they are now found only in the wildest 
parts of the Highlands of Scotland. 
The Black Cock, is about four pounds in weight ; but 
the female, which is usually called the Grey Hen, is not 
often more than two. The plumage of the whole body of the 
male is black, and glossed over the neck and rump with 
shining blue ; the coverts of the wings are of a dusky 
brown, with the quill feathers black and white. The tail 
is much forked. These birds never pair ; but in the spring 
the males assemble at their accustomed haunts on the tops 
of heathy mountains, where they crow and clap their 
wings. 
And from the pine's high top brought down 
The giant Grouse, while boastful he display'd 
His breast of varying green, and crow'd and clapp'd 
His glossy wings. GISBORNE. 
The females, at this signal, resort to them. The males 
are very quarrelsome, and fight together like game cocks. 
On these occasions, they are so inattentive to their own 
safety, that two or three have sometimes been killed at 
one shot ; and instances have occurred of their having 
been knocked down with a stick. 
The Ptarmigan, or White Grouse, is somewhat larger than 
a pigeon ; its bill is black, and its plumage in summer is 
of a pale brown colour, elegantly mottled with small bars 
and dusky spots. The head and neck are marked with 
broad bars of black, rust colour, and white, the wings and 
belly are white. The White Grouse is fond of lofty situ- 
ations, where it braves the severest cold. It is found in 
most of the northern parts of Europe, even as far as 
