Evening star., 1896-07-25
DOINGS OF A TAME GROUSE.
lie Comes When Called and Rather
Likes the Report of a Gun

Likes the Report of a Gun.
From Land and Water.
A tame grouse, the result of an interest
ing experiment in natural history, can be
seen at Tulltemet, in Perthshire Four
years ago Mr.. Young, the keeper there.
reared some grouse, and, being a student
of natural history, he took special interest
In young cock, with the view of making
it pet. 1t became quite tame, flying up
and sitting on his knee without the slight
est fear. Jock he is called, strutted
about the kennels like a barn-door fowl,
eating maize from peoples hands I'm
PEELED by natural instr ct he secured a
mate in the spring. Repairing a shor,
distance to some detached clumps of heath
er, nest was formed and eggs laid In it.
and in due course the hen entered upon the
process of Matching. Jock watched care
fully near the place where his mate was
sitting. Eever falling in his attempt to drive
OF any intruder Going near the place one
day Mr.. Young was surprised to discover
that former friendship had disappeared. as
Jock, flew III his face and succeeded in
drawing blood from his cheek After sue
cessiully rearing the cotey Jock returned
IN the autumn and again cultivated the
friendship CT Mr.. Young, who had him
photographed sitting on his knee. For the
third time he Is at present engaged in
Keeping guard over the hest where his mate
is sitting, and is greatly annoyed when any
one ventures te tntrude upon either of
them.
On recnt visit to Tulliemet We accom-
panied the keeper to the place where
Jock was faithfully guarding his sitting
mate. On the keeper calling out. Are
you there. .Jock?'" he readily RESPONDED
from distance of about couple of hun
dIed yards. Go back, go back, go back"
sd luted US, and Immediately we observed
the bird flying toward US. Alightng about
twenty yards distance, he approached u.s.
his tail spread out. his comb bright and
extended to an unusual size. We stretched
cut our hand toward him, when in an in
slant ne flew at it, striking blow simul-
taneously with his wings and beak. Not
caring to expose our bare hands to his
attacks. we held out our cap, when, seizing
it with his beak he allowed himself to he
lifted. striking With both wings and feet
In watching his movements 1t was interest
ing to note how he occasion ally raised his
head and scanned the horizon all round
In accordance with the habits of grouse
Prior to the nesting season he was OBJ
served one day flying in an excited manner
toward the kennel, and, wondering what
was the cause of alarm, the keeper, on
looking toward the summit, discovered an
eagle in the distance hunting for his prey
The report of a gun has no terrors for
"Jock'-in fact, he seems rather to enjoy
it, Near his home on the moor is d msl,n-
tain tarn, and butts are placed near It,
In which sportsmen SunceaI themselves in
order to shc1t ducks driven over them.
On Ire occasion Of duck drive Jock
t5 certain to be in one of the butts, as II
he enjoyed the sport. Even in confinement
under cover we have known brood of
grouse successfully reared. In this case
there were nine eggs, which produced nine
young birds. Three Of these-we presume
because of their being reared as domestic
pets, and In such unnatural circumstances
exhibited swelling at the joints of their
legs, to which Trey ultimately succumbed
The others grew up strong, splendid birds,
tame as domestic fowls, and in the frosty
autumn mornings interested the neighbor-
hood by their calls, which were as hearty
and unrestrained as If they mad been on
the hillside among the natural heath Our
friend by whom they were reared parted
with them all, save one pair. which he kept
In well-lighted and airy loft for his own
study and amusement. He, of course, sup
piled them regularly with fresh heather,
and was delighted to find them one morn
Ing In the month of April making q nest.
The hen laid seven eggs, and there was
every appearance of the young birds being
safely Matched. Unfortunately, he was at
this time compelled to remove from the
premises. and, though he did his very best
TO transplant the grouse hen with her eggs
to an equally suitable place, she declined
TO become party to the transaction. Thus
the result Of most interesting experiment
in natural history was frustrated.