OF THE GENUS TETRAH. 385 



bushes, on the dwarf willows, which, with pines, form the 

 principal vegetation of those summits. 



The Grouse feed almost exclusively on leaves, buds, ber- 

 ries, and particularly the tender shoots of pines, birch, and 

 other trees, resorting to grains only when compelled by scar- 

 city of their favourite food during severe winters and deep 

 snows: they will, however, pick up a. few worms or insects, 

 and. especially when young, are fond of ant-' eggs. Like 

 other gallinaceous birds, they are frequently employed in 

 scratching the earth, arc fond of covering themselves with 

 dust, and swallow gravel and small pebbles to asM-~1 digestion. 

 No birds are more decidedly and tyrannically polygamous. 

 As soon as the females are fecundated, the males separate 

 from them, to lead a solitary life, without showing any further 

 concern for them or their offspring; though, like perfidious 

 seducers, they are full of attentions, and display the greatest 

 solicitude to secure the possession of those they are soon after 

 so ready to abandon. The nuptial season commences with the 

 firsl appearance of leaves in the spring. The desire of pro- 

 creation manifests itself by extraordinary sounds and gestures. 

 Their voice becomes sonorous, the males appear quite intoxi- 

 cated with passion, and are seen, cither on the ground, or on 

 the fallen trunks of trees, with a proud deportment, an in- 

 flamed and fiery eye. the feathers of the head erected, the 

 wings dropped stiffly, the tail widely spread, parading and 

 strutting about in all sorts of extravagant attitudes, and otter- 

 ing sounds so loud as <<> he heard at a greal distance. This 

 season of ardour and abandonment is protracted till June. 

 The deserted female lays, far apart on the bare ground, in 

 some thick and low coppice, from eight to sixteen eggs, 

 breeding hut once ;i year. They hatch and rear their young 

 precisely ;i- the common fowl, the chicks being carefully pro- 

 tected bj the mother only, with whom they remain all the 

 autumn and winter, separating in spring on the return of the 

 breeding season. It is at this period only that the males u" 

 in search of the females, ami show a fondness for their com- 

 pany. 



