GROUSE. 239 



found in the warmer regions of the earth, yet the 

 majority of them, and those the most typical of 

 the group, are natives of the cold regions of the 

 north hemisphere, or of the summits of alpine 

 ranges of mountains. Many of these are pro- 

 tected from the cold by having the feet more or 

 less clothed with feathers, in some extending even 

 to the extremities of the toes. 



The Grouse in general depart from the poly- 

 gamous habits of their Order ; pairing at the 

 breeding season, and remaining in associations, 

 each composed of a single brood, for the rest of 

 the year ; there are several species, however, which 

 do not pair. During winter they congregate in 

 large flocks, without distinction of broods, and 

 continue thus assembled till the nuptial season. 

 In most of the genera, there is a nuptial change 

 of plumage, niore or less obvious, and in those 

 of very cold countries, there is a state of plumage 

 peculiar to the winter season. They all breed on 

 the ground, and with few exceptions lay a great 

 number of eggs at a time : they are terrestrial in 

 their general habits, running with great ease and 

 celerity; some perch on the low stunted trees of 

 cold climates, on the unexpanded leaf-buds of 

 which they largely feed. Various kinds of cul- 

 tivated grain, and the seeds of grasses, and of 

 leguminous plants afford food to others. The 

 flesh of almost all is highly esteemed for its ten- 

 derness and high flavour. 



GENUS TETRAO. (LiNN.) 



The largest birds of the Family are found in 

 this genus, the Capercailzie of Northern Europe, 



