Buiack Grows. GALLINA. TETRAO. 305 
of the Wood (Tetrao Urogallus), which formerly inhabited 
the forests and mountainous districts of Scotland and Ireland, 
has placed the Black Grous at the head of this genus in the 
British Fauna.—The present species is now confined, in the Locality. 
southern parts of England, to a few of the wildest uncultiva- 
ted tracts, such as the New Forest in Hampshire, Dartmoor 
and Sedgemoor in Devonshire, and the heaths of Somerset- 
shire. It is also sparingly met with in Staffordshire, and in 
parts of North Wales, where it is under strict preservation. 
In Northumberland it is very abundant, and has been rapid- 
ly increasing for some years past, which may be partly attri- 
buted to the numerous plantations that, within that period, 
have acquired considerable growth in the higher parts of the 
county, as supplying it both with food and protection. It 
abounds throughout the Highlands of Scotland, and is al- 
so found in some of the Hebrides.—The bases of the hills Haunts. 
in heathy and mountainous districts, which are covered 
with a natural growth of birch, alder, and willow, and 
intersected by morasses, clothed with long and coarse herb- 
age, as well as the deep and wooded glens so frequently 
occurring in such extensive wastes, are the situations best 
suited to the habits of these birds, and most favourable to 
their increase. During the months of autumn and winter the 
males associate, and live in flocks, but separate in March or 
April; and, being polygamous, each individual chooses some 
particular station, from whence he drives all intruders, and, 
for the possession of which, when they are numerous, despe- 
rate contests often take place. At this station he conti- 
nues every morning during the pairing season (beginning at 
day-break) to repeat his call of imvitation to the other sex, 
displaying a variety of attitudes, not unlike those of a turkey 
cock, accompanied by a crowing note, and one similar to 
the noise made by the whetting of a scythe. . At this season 
his plumage exhibits the richest glosses, and the red skin of 
his eye-brows assumes a superior intensity of colour. With 
the cause that urged their temporary separation their animo- 
U 
