( 33 ) 



THE 



G R O U S, AND ITS A F F I N I T I E S. 



THE Cock of the Wood, or larger Grous, refembles a cock in 

 form, in bill, in the red fkin over his eyes, and in the fingularity 

 of his feathers which grow two together; but has neither wattles nor 

 fpurs. His legs are feathered, and his toes fomewhat indented. His 

 tail is expanfible like the turkey's. 



Is chiefly fond of a mountainous and wooded fituation, in temperate 

 climates ; but in Hudfon's Bay he prefers the plains. In winter he 

 refidcs in the darkeft recefles of the woods; in fummer he ventures from 

 his retreats, to make fliort depredations on the farmer's corn. As he iz 

 greatly fought after, he is always on his guard, and feldom furprifed. 

 Thofe who would take him, muft venture up to his native retreats. When 

 in the foreft, attaches himfelf principally to the oak and the pine-trees; 

 the cones of the latter ferving for his food, and the thick boughs for an 

 habitation. Sometimes will ftrip one tree of its cones, before he will 

 deign to touch thofe of another. Feeds alfo on cranberries, and ants' eggs, 

 which feem a high delicacy to all birds of the poultry kind. 



During February, March and April, this bird is feen at fun-rife and 

 fun-fer, extremely a6live, on one of the largeft branches of a pine-tree. 

 His tail railed and expanded ; his wings lowered j he walks backward 

 and forward, his neck ftretched out, his head fwollen and red, and 

 making a thoufand ridiculous poftures : his cry, upon thatoccafion, is a 

 kind of loud explofion, which is initantly followed by a noife like the 

 whetting of a fcythe, which ceafes and commences alternately for about 

 an hour, and is then terminated by the fame explofion. All this time, 

 the bird feems deaf and infenfiblej even though fired at, he continues 

 his call ; and this is the opportunity fportfmen generally take to fhoot 

 him. At all other times, he is timorous and watchful ; but now he feems 

 entirely abforbed by his inftinfls. This extraordinary cry, which is ac- 

 companied by a clapping of the wings, is no fooner finifiied, than the 

 females hearing it, reply, approach, and place them.felves under the 

 tree, from whence the cock defcends. One cock will engrofs the fe- 

 males of a confiderable diftrift. 



The female is much lefs than her mate, and entirely differs in plumage, 

 fo that Ihe might be miftaken for a bird of another fpecies : lays fix to 



time 



