1112 Birds. 



being an adult, had the black marks on the neck, as represented in 

 the upper figure of that engraving, and in Bewick's figure, p. 272, 

 vol. i. edit. 1797. It flies, on being disturbed, only to a short dis- 

 tance, from one tree to another not far off. I have seen it somewhat 

 plentiful in the summer, in Worcestershire. Its cooing is both melan- 

 choly and plaintive. 



Common Pheasant, Phasianus Colchicus. Although here a 

 hardy and perfectly naturalized species, and capable of enduring the 

 cold, damp and changeable climate even of North Britain, yet it does 

 not exist in any part of Scandinavia ; the cold in winter there being 

 too severe for it. The cocks are extremely fierce, and fight with each 

 other like domestic cocks. The pheasant crosses readily with its con- 

 geners, as well as with the Tetraonidse, and the domestic hen. 



Black Grouse, Tetrao Tetrix. " Some were turned out at 

 Kildale, to the east of Stokesley, a few years since, by the late R. 

 Livesey, Esq., and they are now found in the woods round Guisbo- 

 rough." — J. G. According to Professor Nilsson, the black cock has 

 a sharp sight, and his sense of hearing is more acute than that of other 

 birds. In the beginning of autumn this species lives chiefly in moors, 

 morasses, &c. in Scandinavia, but in the winter in coverts ; it then 

 packs and becomes extremely wild. It is, however, easily domesti- 

 cated ; and it has been known to breed with the barn-door fowl. The 

 habits of the black cock much resemble those of the more noble cock 

 of the wood (Tetrao Urogallus, Lin.), usually known by the name of 

 Capercali, once indigenous in the highlands of Scotland. 



Red Grouse, Moor Game, Lagopus Scoticus. Common on 

 the moors above Stokesley and Guisborough. Mr. Selby says 

 (Cat. p. 270, No. 116), " Grey and white varieties have been killed, 

 particularly at Blanchland, in the county of Durham." It may 

 be worthy of notice, that the male birds are generally, among the 

 Phasianidae, Tetraonidae, &c, larger and heavier than the female 

 or hens, whilst among the Vulturidae, Falconidae, &c, the females ex- 

 ceed the males in size. For what cause may Nature have thus ar- 

 ranged these alternating differences in size and weight ? This note, 

 together with "A List of Land Birds observed in the county of Dur- 

 ham," comprising a great portion of my observations included in the 

 present paper, I communicated to my friend Mr. Yarrell, in April, 

 1837, and I am very glad to find that, although that distinguished 

 naturalist did not adopt my specific term, he has coincided with me 

 in thinking, that "this handsome species ought to have been named 

 Britannicus rather than Scoticus." (See * Brit. Birds,' vol. ii. p. 316). 



(To be continued). 



