What  shooter  at  the  beginning  of  the  season  does  not
know  the  familiar  "  coq,  coq  "  of  the  old  hen  ?  Has  he


1  Donald  Ross,  the  keeper  at  Eskadale,  Strath  Beauly,  told  me  lie  once
saw  a  cock  Grouse  keep  at  bay  a  Sparrow-Hawk  that  was  attempting  to
seize  one  of  his  young.  The  hen  gathered  all  her  chicks  under  her,  and
squatted  down  closely  in  the  heather,  whilst  the  cock  dodged  backwards  and
forwards  under  the  Hawk,  and  exposed  his  breast  whenever  the  marauder
attempted  to  pounce.  This  lasted  for  some  five  minutes,  till  the  Hawk
became  disgusted  and  beat  a  retreat  without  having  effected  his  purpose.
122  GAME  BIKDS  AND  SHOOTING-SKETCHES

not  often  seen  her  running  in  full  view  in  front  of  the
pointing  dogs,  trying  every  inducement  to  warn  her  family
of  their  danger,  sometimes  even  rising  herself  for  a  yard
or  two  out  of  the  heather,  and,  when  she  finds  her  efforts
to  make  them  take  wing  of  no  avail,  dropping  down  again,
a  piece  of  self-sacrifice  which  often  costs  her  her  life  ?

Grouse  have  but  few  curious  attitudes  which  are
peculiar  to  themselves,  their  movements  on  the  ground
much  resembling  those  of  Blackgame  or  Partridges.  One
thing,  however,  which  is  noticeable  is  the  dainty  manner
in  which  they  carry  the  tail  during  wet  weather  or  when
snow  is  on  the  ground.  They  seem  to  have  a  particular
aversion  to  getting  this  appendage  wet,  and  consequently
carry  it  high  in  the  air,  where  it  will  not  become  bedraggled
and  uncomfortable.  They  also  erect  and  expand  the  tail
when  fighting,  after  the  manner  of  the  Blackcock.
