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LAGOPUS SCOTICUS.
RED GROÜSE.
TETIUO SCOTICUS. Ulli., Ind. 0™M,, ,ol. ii, p. Ml, i5 ._ S ,lb ,, Brit, Orailh, ,1. i k . - L .m ' , Bril. Bird., t. 136-M o n t
Ornith. Dtbl. ,,id Supp, vol. i . - B „ ln k '. Brit. Bird., vol. 1, p. 351.-Or.vre, Bril. Ornith, vol. U e n v n . , Man. B. ¥ .rt!
Anim., p. Ì70.
LA GELINOTE D'ÈCOSSR. Briss., 1, p. 199, 5, t. 22, f. 1.
TBTHAO LAGOPUS. Gmcl., Sysi. Nat., vol. i,, p, 750. Var. 7 and 8.
POUIdE Die MAKAIS GROUS. Cur., Reg. Anim., vol. i., p. 400,
TETRAS ROUGE, Temm., Man. d’Ornitli., vol. ¡., p, 4C0.
LAGOPUS ALTERA. Albin., vol. i., p, 35C,
RED GROUSE. Penn., Brit. Zool,, 1, No. 94, t. 4 3 .-L ath „ Syn., 4, p. 74C, and Supp., p. 216.-Morris, Nat. Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. u„ p
342, pi, 171.—Yarr., Brit, Bird.«, 2 edit., vol, ii., p. 351.
RED GAME, MOOR COCK, Raii., Syn., p. 54,—Will. (Ang.), p. 177,
TETKAO SALICETI SCOTICUS. Schleg., Rev. Crit. des Ois, d’Eur., p. 76.
OREIAS SCOTICUS. Kaup., Naturl. Syst., p, 177.
BONASA SCOTICUS. Brws., Ornith., vol, i., p. 199.
LAGOPUS SCOTICUS. Gould, Birds of Eur., pi. 252.—Gray, Gen, of Birds, vol. iii.—MacGill, Brit. Birds, vol. i., p. 169,—Leach, Syst.
Cat. JIam, and Birds Brit. Mus,, p, 27.—Tieill, Nouv, Dict. d’llist. Nat,, xviii., p. 206.—Steph., Geu, Zool., vol. xi., p. 293,—
Flom., Brit. Zool. p. 43,-Kyton, 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, Ornith. Eur., p. 174.
The Red Grouse, Moor Cock, Red Game, Scotch Grouse, by all of which appellations thU species is known, is an inhabitant of the
Britisli Isles. It is found iu considerable numbei-s in various parts of England, Wales, and Ireland, but nowlicrc in such abundance as
among the Highlands of Scotland. Tliey love the moors covered with the purple heather, and resort chiefly to those tracts lying between
tlio lofty haunts of the Ptarmigan and the lower, more wooded lands, where the Black Grouse arc found.
This siieeies is monogamous, the female laying from eight to twelve eggs; and during incubation, whicli is performed by her alone,
the male keeps a vigilant watch a t a short distance, waiting tho appearance of tlie young to assist his mate in bringing up tlieir family.
Tiie Carrion Crow is said to liunt the moors a t tliis period for the nests, and makes great havoc among their contents, whenever
successful iu finding them, even persecuting and sometimes killing tlie young chicks.
The Red Gronse has many cnemie.«, fi-oiii whose daring attacks it often has no little difficulty in escaping. Among the principal
depredatore, may be mentioned the (ioldon Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and Common Buzzard.
s kinds of berries and gra.«ses constitute the food of the Moor Cock, aud it is also very partial t
s upon these whenever they are grown near iU hauuf. Tlie frc.sh twigs of the heath also arc eaten by it, the tips being
broken off in small pieces.
The season for "Grouse shooting" commences about tlie middle of August, and tho number of birds wliicli are kiilcd annually is so
largo, tiiat one would suppose tlic species must become extinct iu a very few years; yet tlicy appear to suffer very li
To see the Scotch Grouse in his native home, one must go to the Highlauds, and traverse the moors, which stretch away for miles
ou every side : nnd there, in tlie early morning, the male will be heard, jierehcd upon some hillock, uttering his challenge-cry.
Tlic following lines, known as the “ Grouse-Shooter's Cull,’’ well describe tlie si
“ Come, wlicro llio brallicr bell,
Cliild of tlic Iligbluid dell,
Brcsllici iu coy frapancc o'er luoorimnl and
Garlj tlie founlnio iliccn
Ixiai* from llic inomilnin grccii—
Conic to our Uigliland liomc,