256 CLASS AVES. 



of the hare in colour and flavour. In America, however, 

 this is not the case. 



This bird more particularly inhabits the central Alps of 

 Europe. It is also extended in North America. 



The Willow Grous inhabits the north of Europe and 

 America, even as far as the ices of the Pole. It seldom 

 shows itself farther south than Livonia and Esthonia. It lives 

 and nidificates very much like the ptarmigan. The eggs of 

 the female are larger, and of a reddish- white, marbled and 

 spotted with blood-red. 



The Red Grous {Tetrao Scoticus) is remarkably abun- 

 dant in Scotland, though less so in England and Ireland. It 

 lives on high mountains, and in desert places. In the winter 

 it descends into the valleys, but does not appear in the 

 plains. It lives on birds, berries, and the leaves of shrubs. 



The Gangas (Pterocles) are the representatives of the 

 grous and ptarmigans in the countries situated under the 

 torrid zone. Their organization, both internal and external, 

 is in the most perfect harmony with the places which they 

 inhabit. Their shape is elegant and compact ; the body not 

 fleshy in proportion to the limbs ; the flesh is fibrous, and 

 the wings are long. All these attributes are indispensable to 

 birds obliged to support a long and continuous flight. Their 

 feet, with broad and short toes, the hinder of wliich does not 

 reach to the ground, are proper for running with celerity on 

 the shifting sand. 



The gangas inhabit the warm countries of Africa and Asia, 

 and their passage into Europe is merely accidental. The 

 meeting with these gallinae is a happy presage for the traveller 

 who is bewildered in the vast solitudes which occupy so 

 considerable a portion of those two parts of the globe. Tlie 

 proximity of torrents or of fountains is announced by the 

 presence of the gangas. These birds inhabit the confines of 

 the desert, or sandy plains, covered only with a few strag- 



