PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, &c. 181 



numerous progeny, seldom breeding more than once in the 

 season. They are objects of keen research to the sportsman 

 and his dogs, who commit great havock among them ; but 

 being protected by legal enactments, and the care of landed 

 proprietors who foster them on account of the pleasure or profit 

 yielded by them, they are in no danger of being extirpated. 

 Their flesh is much esteemed, but in delicacy is inferior to that 

 of many smaller birds, as the Snipe, Land Rail, and all the 

 Huskers, as well as Thrushes, Larks, and other birds, which 

 escape persecution only on account of their insignificant size, or 

 because they are not known to be so savoury as they are. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH GENERA AND SPECIES, 



GENUS I. TETRAO. GROUSE. 



A bare papillate space over the eye. Bill short, strong, slightly 

 curved; upper mandible having its dorsal outline nearly straight 

 at the base, then arcuato-declinate, the edges arched, the tip 

 rounded; lower mandible with its dorsal outline slightly convex. 

 Tarsi short, anteriorly and laterally feathered; toes bare, covered 

 above with numerous transversely elongated scutella, laterally 

 pectinated with linear projecting scales, the hind toe small and 

 elevated ; claws rather short, strong, arched, somewhat com- 

 pressed. 



1. Tetrao Urogallus. Wood Grouse. !Male with the tail 

 rounded, the upper parts minutely undulated with grey and 

 black, the throat and lower parts greenish-black. Female 

 variegated with yellowish-red, white, and brownish-black. 

 Extinct. 



2. Tetrao Tetrix. Black Grouse. Male with the tail much 

 forked, the four lateral feathers on each side elongated and 

 curved outwards ; the general colour of the plumage black. 

 Female with the tail slightly forked, its lateral feathers 

 straight ; the general colour yellowish-red, spotted and undu- 

 lated with brownish-black. 



K 2 



