The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-09-25
A TAME GROUSE.
He Comes When Called and Likes tho
Report OF q Gun. ss

Report OF a Gun. H,
A tame grouse, the result of an inter
esting experiment in natural history
can be seen at Tullimet, in Perthshire
Four years ago Mr.. Young, the keeper
| there, reared some grouse, and, being q
! student of natural history, he took spe-
cial interest in a young cock, with the
view of making it pet. 1t became
quite tame, flying up and sitting on his
knee without the slightest fear. Jock. Z
as he is called, strutted about the ken
nels like a barn-door fowl, eating maize
from peoples hands. Impelled by nat
ural instinct, he secured mate in the
spring. Repairing short distance to
some detached clumps of heather, nest
was formed and eggs laid in it, and in
due course the hen entered upon the
process of Matching. jock watched
carefully near the place where his mate
was sitting, never failing in his attempt
to drive off any intruder. Going near
the place one day Mr.. Young was sur
prised to discover that former friend
ship had disappeared, as "Jock" flew in
his face and succeeded in drawing blood
from his cheek. After successfully rear
ing the covey "Jock" returned in the
autumn and again cultivated the friend
ship of Mr.. Young, who had him photo
graphed sitting on his knee. For the
third time he is at present engaged in
keeping guard over the nest where his
mate is sitting, and is greatly annoyed
when anyone ventures to intrude upon
either one of them.
On recent visit to Tulliemet we ac-
companied 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 hundred yards. go back, go
back, go back" saluted us, and imme-
diately we observed the bird flying to-
ward us. Alighting about 20 yards dis
tant, he approached us, his tail spread
out, his comb bright and extended to
an unusual size. We stretched out our
hand toward him, when in an instant he
few at it, striking blow simultaneous
y with his wings and beak. Not caring
to expose our bare he nds to his attacks,
We held out our cap, when, seizing il
with his beak, he allowed himself to be
lifted, striking with both wings and
,eet. In watching his movements it
vas interesting to note how he occa-
'ionally raised his head and scanned the
lorizon all round. in accordance with
he habits of grouse. Prior to the nest
ng season he was observed one day
lying in an excited manner toward the
lennel, and, wondering what was the
anse of alarm, the keeper, on looking
oward the summit, discovered an eagle
n the distance hunting for his prey.
The report of gun has no terrors for
Jock"-in fact, he seems rather to en-
oy it. Near his home on the moor is a
aountain tarn, and butts are placed
ear it, in which sportsmen conceal
themselves in order to shoot ducks
riven over them. On the occasion of
duck drive Jock" is certain to be in
ne OF the butts, as if he enjoyed the
port. Even in confinement under
over we have known a brood of grouse
reared. In this case there
ere nine eggs, which produced nine
Dung birds. Three of these-we pre-.
line because of their being reared as
omestic pets, and in such unnatural
Observation-Disclosures swelling at
he joints of their legs, to which they
tlmately succumbed. The others
rev up strong, splendid birds, tame az
'mestic fowls, and in the frosty aut-
mn mornings interested the neighbor-
bod by their calls. which were as hearty
I'd unrestrained as if they had been on
e hillside among the natural heath.
II friend by whom they were reared
rted with them all, save one pair.
nich he kept in well-ighted and airy
Il for his own study and amusement.
), of course, supplied them regularly
tn fresh heather, and was delighted
IND them one morning in the month
April making nest. The hen laid
zen eggs, and there was every appear
&c of the young birds being safely
tched. Unfortunately, he was at
S time compelled to remove from the
and, though he did his very
1t to transplant the grouse hen with
eggs to an equally suitable place.
declined to become party to the
nsaction. Thus the result of
st interesting experiment in natural
tory was frustrated and Wa