GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



of the fir trees, during the severe storms and pro- 

 tracted frosts of a Scandinavian winter. 



Again, unlike the red grouse, the black cock is 

 polygamous, as the pheasant is, and, in common 

 with all birds that evince similar Mahomedan pro- 

 pensities, the adult male is larger than the female, 

 and clothed with a shining metallic plumage, 

 while the latter is attired in a homely suit of 

 brown and grey, rendered nevertheless exceed- 

 ingly pleasing to the eye by the beautiful arrange- 

 ment of its tints and their occasional admixture 

 with transverse bars of black and white. 



Extensive moors and swamps, with glens of 

 birch or covers of spruce or Scotch fir, are his 

 favourite haunts, while the hardy nature of the 

 bird, and his shy and wary habits during the 

 winter and spring months, have tended to prolong 

 his existence in many counties where even for 

 ages he has been but thinly distributed. 



It is to be hoped that when better days dawn 

 upon the landed interest in Ireland, the in- 

 troduction of the black grouse will not be for- 

 gotten, and that the trial will be made upon 

 a larger scale, and upon a better system than 

 has yet been attempted. A few enterprising 

 sportsmen have indeed occasionally endeavoured 

 to lead the way in this undertaking, but their 

 isolated efforts have hitherto proved unsuccess- 



