42 GALLING. 



the wing, the tip of the bastard wing, the roots of the 

 primary quills, with the exception of the first four, and the 

 tips of the secondaries, are also white the last marking the 

 closed wing with an oblique line of white, and the others with 

 two white spots. The toes and feathers on the tarsi, with 

 the exception of a portion at the upper joint, which is white, 

 are dusky; which is probably also the colour of the ear- 

 coverts and the necks of the primaries. There are two quills 

 more in the wings than in the red grous, and sixteen feathers 

 in the tail, the outer ones much produced and recurved, so 

 that the tail appears forked. The naked spot over the eye 

 is bright scarlet, granulated on its surface, and deeply fringed 

 along the upper edge. 



The female is about two-thirds of the weight of the male, 

 and the dimensions are nearly in the same proportion, only 

 the length is less, the tail not being so much produced. The 

 colour is brown, of various shades, darkest on the back, and 

 everywhere very beautifully mottled with black. The tail is 

 a little forked, but it is short, and the external feathers are 

 not recurved. The scarlet patch over the eye is in the female 

 a mere line. 



These birds inhabit the lowest slopes of the hills, lonely 

 heaths, and the banks of marshes ; but they come upon the 

 stubble fields in winter, when these are near their haunts. 

 They also frequent sequestered woods and coppices, perching 

 on trees during the night ; and in the cold weather living 

 upon the buds of such trees as have them of considerable 

 size, such as the pines and wild alders. In autumn they feed 

 much upon wild berries, and the seeds of wood and marsh 

 plants, though they cannot swim, and do not fly or wade for 

 the latter. 



During the latter part of autumn and the winter the males 

 live together in flocks, and in a state of the most perfect 

 harmony ; but when the warmth of spring begins to be felt, 



