176 BLACK GROUSE. 



to fly to great distances. These birds, in a domestic state, 

 lay a great number of eggs ; but the young ones are 

 oftentimes difficult to rear. The eggs are considered 

 delicate eating, and some persons are partial to the birds 

 themselves as food ; but they are, in general, kept much 

 more for show than for use. Amongst the Romans they 

 were in great repute, and were occasionally sold at very 

 high prices. 



31. GROUSE TRIBE. 



These birds are inhabitants principally of temperate and 

 cold climates. Their bill is convex and strong. The 

 young ones are able to run about as soon as they are 

 hatched, and even with pieces of the shell adhering to 

 their bodies. 



Black Grouse. Delighting in wild, mountainous, and 

 heathy regions, the Black Grouse chiefly inhabit the 

 northern counties of England and the Highlands of Scot- 

 land. Some few are found in the New Forest, Hamp- 

 shire. They feed on acorns, the tops of heath, and various 

 kinds of mountain-berries. They perch and roost in 

 trees, and, like the pheasant, form their nest on the 

 ground. In this the female lays six or eight eggs, which 

 are of a dull yellowish- white colour, marked with nume- 

 rous rust-coloured specks and spots. The males are 

 extremely quarrelsome, and will fight together like game- 

 cocks. Black Grouse are considered by epicures as ex- 

 cellent food. 



They are of large size, the males sometimes weighing 

 nearly four pounds. These have their plumage black, 

 the neck and rump glossed with a shining blue colour. 

 The secondary quill-feathers are white towards the base. 



