BLACK GROUSE. 341 



THE BLACK GROUSE inhabiting in small numbers a few 

 particularly wild localities in some of the southern counties 

 of England is much more numerous in the north, and from 

 Northumberland, throughout the greater part of Scotland, 

 is found in considerable quantities where well wooded and 

 mountainous districts afford shelter and winter food. 

 They are also found, according to Mr. Macgillivray, on 

 the islands of Mull and Sky in the Hebrides, but not on 

 any of the islands of Orkney and Shetland. 



The Black Grouse, our name is considered to be derived 

 from the Persian word, groos, though partial to bogs and 

 morasses, where the herbage grows rank and strong, is 

 more arboreal in its habits than either the Red Grouse 

 or the Ptarmigan ; and like the Capercaillie, last described, 

 it does not pair, but the males in the spring resort to some 

 particular elevated and open spots, where they may be 

 heard in the morning and evening repeating their call 

 of invitation to the other sex, and displaying a variety 

 of attitudes, trailing their wings, raising and spreading 

 their tails, accompanied, as Mr. Selby observers, by a 

 crowing note, and by another sound similar to that made 

 by the wetting of a scythe ; their voice is loud, and may 

 be heard from a considerable distance ; their plumage is 

 at this time in the highest perfection. The other sex 

 assemble at the well-known call : but, like the hens of the 

 last species, they do not long retain the attentions of 

 their sable lords. The females make a slight nest on 

 the ground, frequently under shelter of some low thick 

 bush, in which they deposit from six to eight eggs : 

 these are yellowish white, spotted and speckled with orange 

 brown ; two inches in length, by one inch five lines in 

 breadth. The dreary task of incubation is performed by 

 the female only, and, being deserted by the male, upon her 



