Resident Birds of the Commons, Downs 

 Moorland and Mountainous Districts 



BLACK GROUSE (FEMALE, GREY HEN) 

 (Tetrao tetrix). 



Most abundantly met with in Scotland ; found also 

 in Devon and Somerset, and in smaller numbers in other 

 suitable parts of England and Wales. 



Haunts. Woods, and moors where rushy places 

 abound. 



Plumage. Generally black with violet reflections. 

 Bluer on the neck and rump. White bar on wings. 

 Lower tail-coverts white. Above eye a naked vermilion 

 patch. Tail lyre-shaped. Legs feathered. Length 23 

 in. Female smaller, chestnut -brown barred with black. 

 Young, like female. Young in down, buff mottled, with 

 darker above, paler below. 



Language. A powerful, harsh, gurgling cry. 



Habits. Flight rapid. Polygamous, and in early 

 spring the cocks engage in most desperate combats, the 

 hens looking on. They also show off before the hens, 

 going through many curious antics for their delec- 

 tation. 



Food. Buds and green shoots, seeds, berries, and 

 grain. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. Under a bush or among grass, in. a slight de-' 

 pression, usually not far from water. 



Materials. A little dry grass. 



Eggs. Six to ten. Yellowish white, spotted with 

 orange-brown. 



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