THE BLACK GROUSE. 223 



now be said to be restored to his hereditary do- 

 minions. 



The black grouse or black game (tetrao tetrix] 

 is firmly established in Scotland and the north of 

 England. It belongs to the restricted genus 

 tetrao, of which this and the capercaillie are the 

 only two representatives in the British islands ; 

 the red grouse and the ptarmigan having been 

 placed in a separate genus (lagopus*) from the 

 peculiar nature of the foot, which is entirely 

 covered with short thick plumage. 



In many respects the black cock would appear 

 to occupy a station intermediate between the red 

 grouse and the pheasant. Like the former it is par- 

 tial to the heather and the moors, but prefers the 

 lower valleys and the neighbourhood of water and 

 wood to the higher brows of the mountains ; and 

 although the tarsi are covered anteriorly and on 

 the sides with short feathers, yet the toes are 

 naked, and the external margins of each are fur- 

 nished with a series of short, comb-like teeth, 

 directed outwards, while the soles are remarkably 

 soft and elastic a peculiar conformation which is 

 still more distinctly developed in the capercaillie, 

 and which is admirably adapted for enabling him 

 to preserve a firm footing on the slippery boughs 



* From Xcryos a hare, and TTOVS a foot. 



