THE COTMOJSI Bl"ACK GROUSE. 



Lyrurus tetrix SWAINSON. 



PLATE XXI. MALE. PLATE XXII. FEMALE. 



Tetrao tetrix, Linnceus Black Grouse, Black Cock, Male ; 

 Grey Hen, Female, Pennant, &c. Black Grouse, Selby, 

 Illustrations, Iviii. and Iviii.* p. 423. 



THE most proper place to have described this 

 beautiful bird was after the true American grouse, 

 the ptarmigan being more naturally succeeded by the 

 r.ext Plate (PL XXIII.) As it is, it has been placed 

 here, and we must refer to the conclusion for the si- 

 tuation of the different groups. 



Tins species is pretty generally spread over Eu- 

 rope, being found in France and Germany, while, as 

 we reach the north, in Russia, Sweden, Norway, &c. 

 it becomes very abundant. In Britain it occurs in 

 the three countries, most sparingly, however, in 

 England, from the rich cultivation and champagne 

 character of the country. The New Forest, Hamp- 

 shire, Somerset, and the wild parts of Staffordshire, 

 can boast of it, but these are nearly all the Eng- 

 lish stations, until we reach the borders, where it 

 becomes abundant in the wild districts, which con- 

 duct to its still more frequent haunts in Scotland, 



