grous. 229 



are square at the ends ; the eight middle ones much shorter, making 

 the tail forked ; under tail coverts white; legs feathered, and the 

 toes pectinated as in the two last species.* 



The female is smaller, as in the Wood Grous, and differs from 

 the male in much the same manner, and the colours of the plumage 

 very similar. 



This species is common in all the northern parts of Great Britain, 

 but especially Scotland, and Wales, more sparingly scattered as we 

 advance southward ; chiefly affects woody and mountainous situa- 

 tions; feeds on seeds and berries, and not unfrequently on acorns ; 

 some met with in Cumberland ; and in the moors of Yorkshire they 

 are tolerably plentiful ; are also exceedingly numerous in Stafford- 

 shire, most so on the estates of Lord Paget. Have formerly been 

 found in abundance in the New Forest, in Hampshire, but we believe 

 are at this time somewhat scarce ; many are met with in Sussex, and 

 some in Surrey ; though probably lessen in number in proportion as 

 the sportsmen increase. 



The females assemble at the crowing of the male, as in the Wood 

 Grous. The eggs are six or eight in number, two inches long, 

 yellowish white, speckled with ferruginous, and some larger spots 

 of the same, at the small end. 



The males of this species will often meet and fight, like the 

 Game Cocks, and during the combat, are so off their guard as to 

 be knocked down with a stick. Are common in all parts of Russia 

 and Siberia, where birch trees grow ; fond also of the Tacamahac 

 Poplar,f which gives the flesh an exceedingly fine flavour. In Siberia 

 a singular mode of taking them is noticed by Dr. Pallas. In the 

 birch forests some poles are placed horizontally on forked sticks, on 



* The trachea in this bird is considerably enlarged at the division of the bronchise, the 

 enlargement is not bony, like the labyrinths of some of the Duck Genus, but soft and 

 pulpy. This was the case in a bird examined by Mr. Simmonds ; and it would be right to 

 observe in future, if this structure of the trachea be general. — Lin, Trans, viii. 269. 



-(■ Populus balsamifera. — Lin. 



