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LAGOPUS SCOTI CUS.
RED GROUSE.
TETIUO SCOTICUS. Lath., lud. Oruitli., vol. ii., p. 641, sp. 15.—Selby, Brit, Oruith., pi. six.-Lewin’s Brit. Birds, t, 136.—Mont.,
Ornitb. Diet, and Supp., vol. i,—Bewick’s Brit. Birds, vol. i., p. 351.—Graves, Brit. Ornith., vol. ii,—Jenyns, Man. B. Vert.
Anim., p. 170.
LA GELINOTE D’liCOSSE. Briss., 1, p. 199, 5, t. 22, f. 1.
TETIUO LAGOPUS. Gmel, Syst. Nat., vol. i., p. 750. Vav. 7 and 8.
POULE DE MAKAIS GROUS. Cut., Reg. Anim., vol. i„ p. 450.
TE'fRAS ROUGE. Temm., Man. d'Oruitli., vol. i., p. 465.
LAGOPUS ALTERA. Albin., vol. i., p. 356.
RED GROUSE. Penu., Brit. Zool, 1, No. 94, t. 43.—Latb,, Syn,, 4, p. 746, and Supp,, p. 216.—Morris, Nat, Hist, Brit. Birds, vol. u., p.
342, pi. 171.—Yarr., Brit, Birds, 2 edit., vol. ii., p. 351.
RED GAME, MOOR COCK. Raii., Syn,, p. 54.—W ill (Aug.), p. 177.
TETRAO SALICETI SCOTICUS. Scbleg., Rev, Crit, des Ois, d’Eni'., p. 70.
OREIAS SCOTICUS, Kanp., Naturl. Syst., p. 177.
BONASA SCOTICUS. Bris-s., Ornith., vol. i., p. 199.
LAGOPUS SCOTICUS. Gonld, Birds of Eur., pi. 252.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii.—MacGlD, Brit. Birds, vol. i., p. 169,—Loach, Syst.
Cat. Mam. and Birds Brit. Mas., p. 27.—Vioill., Nonv. Dict. d’llist. Nat., xviii., p. 206.—Steph., Gen, Zool, vol x l, p. 293.—
Flcm., Blit. Zool, p. 43.—Eyton, Cat, Brit. Birds, p. 30-—Bon., Geog. & Comp. List of Birds, p. 44.—Gray, Cat. Birds Brit.
Mns., Part III., p. 142 (1850).—Bou,, Rev. Ornith. Eur., p. 174.
The Red Grouse, Moor Cock, Red Game, Scotch Grouse, hy all of which appellations this species is known, is an inhabitant of the
British Isles. I t is fonnd iu considerable numbers iu various parts of England, lYales, aud Ireland, but nowhere in sucli ahnadance as
among the Highlands of Scotland. They 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 Gronse are found.
Tills species is monogamous, the female laying from eight to twelve eggs; and during incubation, which is performed by lior alone,
the male keeps a vigilant watch a t a short distance, waiting the appearance of the yonng to assist his mate in bringing up their family.
The Carrion Crow Is said to hunt the moors a t this period for the nests, and makes great havoc among their contents, whenever
successful in finding them, even pcreecnting and sometimes killing the yonng chicks.
The Red Gronse has many enemies, from whose daring attacks it often has no little difficulty in escaping. Among the principal
depredators, may bo mentioned the Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, aud Common Buzzard.
Various kinds of berries and grasses constitute tlic food of the Moor Cock, and it is also very partial to oats aud corn, and will
feed to excess upon these ivhcncvcr they are grown near its liaimt.s. The fresh twigs of the heath also arc eaten by it, the tips being
broken ofT in smalt pieces.
The season for “ Grouse shooting" commences about the middle of August, aud the unnibor of birds which arc killed annually is so
large, th a t one would suppose the species must become extinct in a very few years; yet tliey appear to suffer very little dimiuntiou.
To see tho Scotch Grouse in Ills native home, one must go to the Highlauds, 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 cliallcngc-cry.
The following lines, known as the “ Gronsc-Shootcr’s Call,” well describe the scene:
“ Come, wlioro llio liMllicr Dell,
Cliild of die Uighkml doll,
Brcttllios its coy fragrance o’er inoorlnii<l end le»;
Gnyly tl.e tan.lnin il.een
Como lo onr Uiglilniid lionie, blilliraoino end f.i'o!
“ Seo! tlirongli tho glonming
Liltc a hridnl veil roiiiiii her tho silver mist curled;
Deep ns tlio nihy’s rays,
Jlriglit ns tlio sapphiie’s hlnrm,
The hnnnor of dny in the cost is uiifuiled.
Pence in oor Highland vele»,
ItonUh in t>ur mouiitnin gnles-
Who uodd not liio to the moorlands nwi
“ rnrfrom ,be linunta of man
Jllnrk the ;;ray Plnrniignn,
Seek the lone Moor Cook, the pride of o.
Birds of th
Ilorc in tin;ir resting plaee,
'Mid ÜIO hroun henIh vbere tho mountab
The voice of the Red Grouse is loud; and few, who have ever crossed the moors, hut have heard his cackling note, resembling
iok, kok, quickly repeated. This sound is chiefly uttered «hen the birds arc disturbed; a t otiier times they emit a loud cry which, as