BLACK GROUSE. 305 



The Black Grouse inhabiting in small numbers a few 

 particularly wild localities in some of the southern counties of 

 England is much more numerous in the north, and from 

 Northumberland, throughout the greater part of Scotland, is 

 found in considerable quantities where well wooded and 

 mountainous districts afford shelter and winter food. They 

 are also found, according to Mr, Macgillivray, on the islands 

 of Mull and Sky in the Hebrides, but not on any of the 

 islands of Orkney and Shetland. 



The Black Grouse, — our name is considered to be derived 

 from the Persian word, groos, — though partial to bogs and 

 morasses, where the herbage grows rank and strong, is more 

 arboreal in its habits than either the Red Grouse or the 

 Ptarmigan ; and like the Capercaillie, last described, it does 

 not pair, but the males in the spring resort to some particular 

 elevated and open spots, where they may be heard in the 

 morning and evening repeating their call of invitation to the 

 other sex, and displaying a variety of attitudes, trailing their 

 wings, raising and spreading their tails, accompanied, as Mr. 

 Selby observes, by a crowing note, and by another sound 

 similar to that made by the wetting of a scythe ; their voice 

 is loud, and may be heard from a considerable distance ; their 

 plumage is at this time in the highest perfection. The other . 

 sex assemble at the well-known call : but, like the hens of 

 the last species, they do not long retain the attentions of their 

 sable lords. The females make a slight nest on the ground, 

 frequently under shelter of some low thick bush, in which 

 they deposit from six to eight eggs : these are yellowish 

 white, spotted and speckled with orange brown ; two inches 

 in length, by one inch five lines in breadth. The dreary task 

 of incubation is performed by the female only, and being de- 

 serted by the male, upon her alone devolves the care and pro- 

 vision of the brood. In their first plumage the young birds 

 of both sexes resemble the female, but the young males by 



VOL. ir. X 



