Natural-Historical Collections. \^ 



restricts itself to tlie sides of sloping mountains and moors, careless of more she], 

 ter than is afforded by the heath, or other alpine plants of yet m<we lowly growth, 

 or even by the natural roughness of the ground. The habits of the Blacli Cock 

 are intermediate between those of the species just alluded to. Ptarmigans (of 

 which the species of ilurope and America are still insufficiently characterised and 

 distinguislied) prefer, in comparatively temperate climates, such as that of Scot- 

 land, the bare and stony sides and summits of our liighest mountains ; but under 

 the rigorous temperature of Greenland, and tlie most northern parts of America, 

 they are chiefly found by the sea-shore, and among the willow and other copse 

 woods of the lower and more sheltered vales. The restriction of the Common 

 Grouse ( T, Sootums) to the two islands of Great Britain and Ireland, is a fapii- 

 liar though a singular fact in the geographical distribution of birds. The fir^t 

 and most remarkable of the specimens to which it was Mr. Wilson's more im- 

 mediate object to direct the attention of the Society, was the Tetrao Urophasu 

 anus, or Pheasant-tailed Grouse, the largest of the American species of this 

 genus, and, excepting the Capercailzie, the largest to be met with in any country. 

 This bird seems to have been observed by Lewis and Clarke, by whom it is men- 

 tioned under the name of Cock of the Plains ; and a notice of it was published, 

 some time ago, in the Zoological Journal, by Cliag. Lucien Buonaparte, who pb- 

 tained an imperfect specimen of the male in London. The length of this bird 

 (when full grown) is 32 inches ; its girth 22 ; its weight from 6 to 8 lbs. The 

 female is considerably less than the male. Her plumage closely resembles his, 

 except that she wants the lengthened filameatous feathers on each side of the 

 neck, and differs slightly in the colour of chin, cheeks, throat, and breast. The 

 flight of these birds is slow and unsteady. Their wings are feeble and prppor- 

 tionably small ; their progress tlirough the air is effected by a flutteriug motion, 

 rather than a direct continuous flight. When raised, their voice resembles that 

 of the common pheasant. 



They build on the ground, beneath the shade of Purshia and Artemisia, or 

 near streams among Phalaris Arundinacea. The nest is carelessly constructed 

 of grass and twigs ; the eggs (from 13 to 17 in number) are about the size of 

 those of a common fowl, of a wood-brown colour, irregularly blotched witli cho- 

 £olate-brown at the larger end. The period of incubation is about three weeks, 

 and the young leave the nest a few hours after they are hatched. In the sum- 

 mer and autumn months, these birds are to be found in small troops ; in spring 

 and winter, in flocks of several hundreds. They never perch ; indeed, within 

 their range, not a bush larger than a broom or common whin is to be found. 

 Their food consists chiefly of the buds, leaves, and fruit of Purshia tridentata, 

 Artemisia, the seeds of Cactus, brown and black ants, and sand-bugs. Their 

 Hesh is dark-coloured, and not particularly well flavoured. They are plentiful 

 throughout the plains of the Columbia River, and in the interior of North Caro- 

 lina ; but have never been seen east of the Rocky Mountains. 



The next species, in size and importance, is Ricliardson's Grouse ( T. Riclutrd- 

 sonii), so called in honour of the distinguislied traveller of that name. There is 

 a remarkable difference in this species between the plumage of the male and fe- 

 -male. The weight of these birds varies from 2 4 to 3 lbs. Their voice is a con- 

 tinuation of distinct hollow sounds, like the cooing of a dove. They build their 

 nests of small twigs, leaves, or grass, amid coppices of birch or hazel, in the vi- 

 cinity of springs or mountain rills. They lay from 13 to 19 eggs, nearly as 

 large as those of the domestic fowl, marked with red specks. Their flight is 

 swift, steady, and peculiarly graceful. When startled, they drop from the bran- 

 ches of the pine-trees, their usual roosting-place, to within a few feet of the ground, 



before they commence flying a circumstance which often deceives the hunter. 



This trait seems peculiar to the species. In spring, they are seen in great num- 

 bers, basking in the sun, on the soutliem declivities of low hills ; and, in winter, 

 in flocks of sixty or eiglity, in the vicinity of springs, lakes, or large streams. 

 They are easily destroyed, continuing to sit with apparent tranquillity after several 

 shots have been fired. Their flesh is white and excellent. They feed on the 



