RUFFED GROUS. 



303 



■^^'and four or five in the afternoon. Their food is chiefly bter- 

 " ries and feeds of the country: their flefli is white, and choice 

 ^'■food, I believe they breed but once a year, in the fpring, and 

 " hatch twelve or fourteen at a broody which keep in a company 

 " till the following fpring. Many have attempted to raife the young 

 " onesj and to tame them ; but to no purpofe. When hatched under 

 " a hen, they efcape into the woods foon after they are hatchedj , 

 *" where they either find means to fubfift, or perifh." 



The hiftory of this bird is thus further illuftraced by Mr. Brooke Mr. Brooke. 

 of Marylandy. in North America : " The ruffed Grous, or Pheafant, 

 *'■ breeds in all parts of Maryland, fome countries on the Eaftern 

 " Ihore excepted.. They lay their eggs in nefls they make in the 

 " leaves, either by the fide of fallen trees, or the roots of ftanding 

 " ones. They lay from twelve to fixteen eggs : the time of incu- 

 " bation is in the fpring; but how long their eggs are hatching 

 " I cannot fay ; but probably it is three weeks, the time that a ' 



" Dunghill Hen fits. I have found their nefts when a boy, and have 

 '' endeavoured to take the old Pheafant, but never could fucceed : : 

 " fhe would almoft let me put my hand upon her before fhe would 

 *^ • quit her nefl ; then by artifice Ihe would draw me ofi^ from her eggs, 

 " by fluttering jufl: before me for a hundred paces or more; ib that 

 ''^ I have been in conftant hopes of taking her. They leave their 

 "' nefl:s as foon as they are hatched ; and I believe they live at- 

 " firfl: on ants, fmall worms, &c. When they are a few days old, 

 "■ they hide themfelves fo- artfully among the leaves, that it is dif- 

 "'ficult to find them : as they grow up, they feed on various berries^ 

 "fruits, and grain of the country: grapes they likewife are fond of 

 " in the feafon; but the Pheafant is more particularly fond of the ivy- 

 '' berry. Ido not know any other animal that feeds on this berry: 

 " I know it is poifon to many. Though the Pheafant hatches 

 "' many young at a time, and often fits twice a year, the great num-^ 

 "" ber and variety of Hawks in Maryland feeding on them, prevents • 

 ^'* their increafing faft. The beating of the Pheafant, as we term itj 

 ^'•- is. a- noife chiefly made' in the fpring of the year by the cock-bird 5 



