BRITISH BIRDS. 12/ 



leaves and other parts of growing plants. They also con- 

 sume considerable quantities of small snails and various 

 insects, especially coleopterous ones of small size, for which, 

 in confinement, they evince much partiality. 



As the males arrive before the females, it is probable 

 that these much belauded birds only pair for the season, 

 and that their reputed conjugal fidelity is a pleasing myth. 



THE GROUSE. 



The Grouse family next engages our attention, and 

 comprises some notable genera and species resident in 

 Britain, and many others that occur in different parts of 

 the Empire, though, of course, at present we are only con- 

 cerned %vith the former. 



Family — Tetraotiid(C. 



Genus — 1. Tetrao. T. tctrix. Black Grouse. 



T. tirogallns. Capercaillie. 



2. Lagopus. L. scotiais. Red Grouse. 



Black Grouse. — In this species the sexes differ very 

 much from each other in appearance. The male, the head 

 of wdiich, as well as the nape, is dark glossy purple ; the 

 chin, throat, and breast have a brownish tinge, and on the 

 lower part of the latter the feathers a lighter coloured 

 border. The back is deep purple, glossy, and shading to 

 black ; the greater and lesser wing coverts are black, with 

 white base ; primaries dark blackish browm, with lighter 

 shafts, the innermost of which have the base white ; the 

 secondaries and tertiaries have white tips, and the tail, 

 which consists of eighteen feathers, of which the outer 

 four are elongated and expand into the form of a lyre, 

 are black ; the under tail coverts are white ; the legs, 



