THE MOOR-FO¥L. 



This bird, driven to the north by cultivation, is only 

 to be found in the extensive and untilled wastes covered 

 with heath, particularly the situations which are most 

 mountainous. The most southern parts in which moor- 

 fowl now appear, are the mountains of Wales; in 

 Yorkshire, and from thence northward on the moor- 

 lands they are not uncommon ; but they especially 

 abound in the Highlands of Scotland. They are also 

 found on the western islands, and in the mountains and 

 bogs of Ireland, but they seem to be confined to the 

 United Kingdom. 



The moor-fowl confine themselves to the open moors, 

 form their nests of a few withered stems, placed care- 

 lessly together in a tuft of heath, and feed on the moun- 

 tain and bog berries. A female was taken alive near 

 Wedhampton, in Wiltshire, many years ago ; but it is 

 difficult to say by what accident it was driven so far 

 from its native moors, as the nearest place to this which 

 moor-fowl are known to inhabit, is the south of Wales, 



