656 GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



This species is a little larger than the Common Quail of Europe. 

 Crest of 6 dusky feathers ; front dull ferruginous. Region round 

 the eyes, chin, and throat, dusky black ; behind the eye a dull yellow- 

 ish-white streak ; a crescent of the same color bounds the black of the 

 throat; belly inclining to ferruginous yellowish with slender cres- 

 cents of black. Axillary feathers dusky, with a longitudinal yellow- 

 ish streak. Tail rather long, and partly cuneiform. Legs and bill 

 lead-color. 



GROUS. (Tetrao, Lin.) 



With the BILL short, entire, and naked at the base ; upper mandi- 

 ble vaulted, and curved from its origin. Nostrils basal, half closed 

 by an arched membrane, and hidden by the advancing feathers of 

 the front. Tongue short, fleshy, and acuminate. Eye-brows naked, 

 scattered with red papillae. Feet moderate ; tarsus feathered, and 

 spurless in both sexes; 3 toes before, united to the 1st articulation; 

 one toe behind half as long as the inner, the whole usually furnished 

 with dentellated borders. Wings short, rounded; the 1st primary 

 short, and the 2d not so long as the 3d and 4th which are longest. 

 Tail of 18 or 16 feathers. 



The female of the larger species, very different in plumage from 

 the male ; in the smaller kinds the sexes differ little in appearance. 

 Young of the year, and in their 2d moult, similar to the female. The 

 general moult twice in the year, some (in inclement climates) chang- 

 ing greatly with the season. 



These birds inhabit large forests, particularly in mountainous coun- 

 tries, although some are equally addicted to plains. The Ptarmigans, 

 associated in numerous flocks, are confined to the glacial regions of 

 the north, or inhabit towards the summits of the high mountains in 

 the centre of Europe. The Grous live in families, are polygamous, 

 abandoning the female to the charge of the progeny, and then 

 living in solitude. The eggs are from 8 to 14, In their manners 

 they are shy, wild, and incapable of permanent domestication. Their 

 food consists almost wholly of berries, buds, and leaves, to which 

 seeds are only an accessory, in extreme want. Their voice is sono- 

 rous, and they have particular cries at the period of reproduction. 

 Their flesh, as game, is considered superior to all others. They are 

 confined to the cold and temperate climates of the northern hemis- 

 phere, and the arctic species alone are common to both continents. 



