THE GROUSE. 21? 



about the size of those of a goose, of a pale olive brown, 

 marked with spots of a darker colour; they usually sit 

 about five weeks ; and the young ones run about as 

 soon as they are hatched. 



THE GROUSE, AND ITS AFFINITIES. 



The cock of the wood, the black cock, the grouse, 

 and the ptarmigan, are all birds of a similar nature, 

 and chiefly found in heathy mountains and piny fo- 

 rests, at a remote distance from mankind. 



The cock of the wood is sometimes near the size of 

 a turkey, and often weighs near fourteen pounds. The 

 black cock, the male of which is completely black, 

 though the female is the colour of a partridge, is about 

 the size of a hen. The grouse is about half as large 

 again as a partridge, and its colour resembles that of 

 a woodcock, though rather of a redder cast. The 

 ptarmigan is somewhat less, and the feathers of a pale 

 brown or ash colour : they are all distinguishable from 

 other birds of the poultry kind, by a naked skin of 

 scarlet colour above the eyes, in the form of an eye- 

 brow. 



In winter, these birds reside in the inmost parts of 

 woods ; but, in the summer, they venture from their 

 retreat, and make frequent depredations upon the 

 farmer's grounds. The cock of the wood feeds chiefly 

 upon the cones of pines, and seems to be peculiarly 

 delicate in the selection of his choice. The others 

 appear to prefer the heath-blossoms, cranberries, and 

 different kinds of corn : their flesh is reckoned re- 

 markably delicate ; but the cock of the woods is the 

 most preferred. The female of this bird is so different 

 to its mate, that it might easily be mistaken for an- 

 other species : she seldom lays more than six or seven 



