76 



TETRAONID.E. 



THE Tetraonidce is another family of the Rasores 

 which belongs to British ornithology. The birds 

 belonging to it in general pair and remain in par- 

 ties, the number of the broods from season to 

 season ; but some species are polygamous, and run 

 into this great characteristic of the rasorial group. 

 They, during winter, congregate in large flocks, 

 without distinction of broods, and continue thus 

 assembled until breeding time. There is in all a 

 greater or less change of plumage during the breed- 

 ing season, and in some, that of the winter is very 

 different from the summer state. The deprivation 

 in this family of the naked skins and wattles, &c., 

 with the large development of the tail and its ac- 

 cessaries so prevalent among the Pavonidce, is repre- 

 sented only by the bright coloured skin around the 

 eyes ; the elongation of the feathers on the sides of 

 the neck, and by the bare skins, capable of being 

 inflated upon the axilla and sides of the neck.* 

 All of them breed upon the ground, and, with few 

 exceptions, they lay numerous eggs ; they are, in- 

 deed, chiefly terrestrial in their habits, though 

 several species inhabit wooded districts, perch on 

 trees, and feed on their young shoots or buds. 



THE genus Tetrao, or the Grouse, which are 

 chiefly characteristic of this family, were for- 

 * See particularly in the American species. T. cupido, $c. 



