BLACK COCK SHOOTING. 51 



borders of the two kingdoms, is plentiful farther 

 north, and abundant in those frequent haunts of its 

 favour the sub-alpine sheep countries. It is found 

 in most of the wild districts extending to Sutherland ; 

 also in the islands of Mull and Skye. The counties 

 of England in which it is known, are Hampshire in 

 the New Forest, Somersetshire, Dartmoor and Ex- 

 moor, in Devonshire, and the wilder portions of 

 Staffordshire and Lancashire. They are also be- 

 coming plentiful, it is said, in the forest of Dela- 

 mere, in Cheshire. 



The upper part of the plumage of the adult bird 

 is of a rich steel blue ; of the lower parts pitch black ; 

 the wing coverts are also pitch black; with the 

 secondaries, the greater ones are fringed with white, 

 thus forming a stripe across the wings visible in flight; 

 the under tail coverts are white. After the moulting 

 process, there is a tinge of brown interspersed with 

 the full plumage, which again changes at the close of 

 winter. The peculiar feature in the construction of 

 the black grouse, is the singular form of its tail: 

 the feathers of which curve outwardly, and spread at 

 its fullest development into the shape of a lyre. 

 These plumes, thus elongated, would seem to signify 

 some peculiar sustenance of flight ; but the fact does 

 not prove so, for their ascent is neither of long dura- 

 tion, nor applicable to any known habit of the species. 

 We are told, that it holds analogy, in this forked tail 

 and silken plumage, to the Drongo Shrikes of Africa 

 and India. The female is smaller than the male, 



