THE GROUSE. 



The cock of the wood is sometimes of the size of a turkey, 

 and often weighs near fourteen pounds ; the black cock, of 

 which the male is all over black, though the female is of the 

 colour of the partridge, is about the size of a hen ; the grouse 

 is about half as large again as a partridge, and its colour much 

 like that of a woodcock, but redder ; the ptarmigan is still some- 

 what less, and is of a pale brown or ash -colour. They are all 

 distinguishable from other birds of the poultry kind by a naked 

 skin of a scarlet colour, above the eyes, in the place and of the 

 figure of eye-brows. 



It seems to be something extraordinary, that all the larger 

 wild animals of every species choose the darkest and the inmost 

 recesses of the woods for their residence, while the smaller kinds 

 come more into the open and cultivated parts, where there are 

 more food and more danger. It is thus with the birds I am 



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describing : while the cock of the wood is seldom seen, except 

 on the inaccessible parts of heathy mountains, or in the midst of 

 piny forests, the grouse is found in great numbers in the neigh- 

 bourhood of corn fields, where there is heath to afford retreat 

 and shelter. Their food too somewhat differs ; while the smaller 

 kinds live upon heath blossoms, cranberries, and corn, the larger 

 feeds upon the cones of the pine tree ; and will sometimes en- 

 tirely strip one tree, before it offers to touch those of another, 

 though just beside him. In other respects, the manners of 

 these birds are the same ; being both equally simple in their 

 diet and licentious in their amours. 



The cock of the wood is, as was said, chiefly fond of a moun- 

 tainous and woody situation. In winter he resides in the dark- 

 est and inmost part of the woods ; in summer he ventures down 

 from his retreats, to make short depredations on the farmer's 

 corn. The delicacy of his flesh, in some measure, sets a high 

 price upon his head ; and as he is greatly sought after, so he 

 continues, when he comes down from the hills, always on his 



