123 



BLACK GBOUSE. 



BLACK GAME. BLACK COCK. 



PLATE CXXXIX. 



Tetrao tefrLr, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Uroyallus minor, HAT. WILLUGHBT. 



THE nest is placed not far from water, or in a marshy spot, among 

 heath, or in newly-made plantations, and sometimes in hedgerows, 

 generally under the shelter of some low bush or among high grass, in 

 some hollow, and is composed inartificialry, but neatly, of grass and 

 a few twigs laid together. 



In the 'British Game Birds and "Wildfowl/ by my brother, Beverley 

 E. Morris, Esq., he says, speaking of the time after the hen birds 

 have commenced sitting, 'They are deserted by the cock birds, who 

 again assemble in small parties, and seek the secluded and quiet thickets, 

 among which they chiefly remain till they have completed their moult. 

 They are, during this seclusion, particularly timid and shy. The female 

 has thus the whole charge of hatching and bringing up the young 



birds The packs of male birds are sometimes very numerous, 



often amounting to from fifty to seventy birds. The females also in 

 autumn are occasionally found in packs, but in much smaller numbers, 

 generally under twenty.' 



The eggs are from five to eight or ten in number, of a pale yellowish 

 red or yellowish white colour, irregularly spotted and dotted with red- 

 dish brown. They are laid in May. 



One is of a fine yellowish brown, spotted throughout with larger 

 and smaller blots and streaks of reddish brown. 



