322 



tiirds. 



THE BLACK COCK, (Tetrao tetrixj 



Is about four pounds in weight ; but the female, which 

 is usually called the Grey Hen, is often not more than 

 two. The plumage of the whole body of the male is 

 black, and glossed over the neck and rump with shining 

 blue ; the coverts of the wings are of a dusky brown, 

 with the quill feathers black and white. The tail is 

 much forked in the male. These birds never pair ; but 

 in the spring the males assemble at their accustomed 

 haunts on the tops of heathy mountains, where they 

 crow and clap their wings : 



" And from the pine's high top brought down 

 The giant Grouse, while boastful he displayed 

 His breast of varying green, and crow'd and clapp'd 

 His glossy wings." 



GISBORNE. 



The females, at this signal, resort to them. The males 

 are very quarrelsome, and fight together like game-cocks. 

 On these occasions they are so inattentive to their own 

 safety, that two or three have sometimes been killed at 

 one shot ; and instances have occurred of their having 

 been knocked down with a stick. 



