BLACK COCK AND MOOR-FOWL. 207 



make short depredations on the growing corn. The deli- 

 cacy of its flesh makes it an object of some importance 

 to epicures : and, as if sensible of its danger, it appears 

 constantly on its guard. When in the forest, it draws 

 part of its subsistence from the cones of the fir, the thick 

 boughs of which tree commonly serve it for shelter. It 

 feeds also on ant-eggs, and various kinds of berries ; and 

 will complete its meal with gravel. 



The female lays her eggs in a dry mossy ground ; and, 

 when she leaves them in quest of food, carefully covers 

 them. As soon as the young are hatched, they run after 

 their mother with great agility ; and, soon learn to eat ant- 

 eggs, mountain berries, and other tender food. The 

 brood keep together till the ensuing spring ; when they 

 begin to look upon each other as rivals, contests ensue, 

 and, in conclusion, the victor carries off as many females 

 as he pleases. 



THE BLACK COCK. 



Birds of this species, like the former, are fond of woody 

 and mountainous situations, and prefer the same kind of 

 food. They never pair ; but in spring the male ascends 

 some eminence, where he crows and claps his wings, and 

 on this signal the females resort to him. The hen seldom 

 lays more than six or seven eggs ; and, like the female of 

 the preceding species, covers them up, when she leaves 

 her nest in search of food. 



A full-grown black cock, or black grous, (so called 

 from its colour,) will weigh nearly four pounds. The 

 flesh of this bird is highly esteemed. 



THE MOOR-FOWL, OR RED-GAME. 



The red-game is peculiar to the British islands. The 

 male weighs about nineteen ounces, and the female fifteen. 

 They pair early in the spring, and the latter lays from six 

 to ten eggs. The young brood follow the dam in summer ; 

 and in winter they are seen in flocks of forty or fifty, on 



