THE WOOD-GROUSE. 73 



eggs, and insects; and his gizzard, like that 

 of domestic fowls, contains a quantity of gra- 

 vel, which is supposed to assist his powers of 

 digestion. 



The Wood-grouse begins early to feel the 

 genial influence of spring; and its courtship 

 may be said to continue till the trees are en- 

 tirely clothed with foliage and the forest is in 

 full verdure; and as he now seems entirely 

 deaf and insensible of danger, this is the time 

 that sportsmen generally take to shoot him. 

 Upon all other occasions he is the most timid 

 and vigilant of birds. 



