BLACK GROUSE. 275 



tent, some examples having much black in the plumage and a 

 very well developed forked black tail, each feather being 

 prettily edged with white. One peculiarity of these birds is 

 the colour of the throat, which in the most fully plumaged 

 examples is pure white. 



The only time when the throat of the male is white, or 

 partially so, is during the short period when the temporary 

 hen-like plumage covers the head and neck. At that season 

 the throat becomes white or thickly spotted with white. No 

 doubt this is the source whence the pure white throat of the 

 barren female is derived. 



Range in Great Britain. — Principally found in Scotland and 

 the North of England at the present day, but formerly distri- 

 buted over England in localities suited to its habits. It is still 

 to be found in many parts of England and Wales, and is an 

 inhabitant of the wilder districts of the south-western counties. 



Range outside the British Islands. — Europe and Northern 

 and Central Asia, eastwards to the River Kolima, North- 

 eastern Siberia, southwards to the Eastern Pyrenees, North 

 Italy, Northern Caucasus, Tian Shan, and Peking, and north- 

 wards to about 69° N. lat. {Ogilvte Grajit). 



Habits. — Mr. Ogilvie Grant writes : — " Pine and birch-forests 

 are the true home of this bird, and though, when feeding, it may 

 often be met with on the open moors or in the stubble-fields at 

 a considerable distance from any covert, it is truly a denizen of 

 the woods, and passes the greater part of its existence on the 

 branches, where, unlike the Red Grouse, it is perfectly at 

 home. Black Grouse, like other Game-Birds, are extremely 

 partial to grain, and in some parts of Scotland, where they are 

 still numerous, frequent the stubble-fields in enormous flocks, 

 generally in the early morning and towards evening. They 

 are polygamous— that is to say, one male pairs with many 

 females, and generally towards the end of March or beginning 

 of April the pairing season commences, when the cocks are 

 in the habit of repairing at dawn and sunset to some par- 

 ticular spot to display their charms to the females and give 

 battle to their rivals. 



"The extraordinary pantomime gone through by each male 

 as he struts round the arena, generally an open patch of ground 



T 2 



