THE RUFFED GROUS. 



When found Food Nest. 



abundance in the north of England, but they have 

 now become very scarce. This is owing to va- 

 rious causes; but principally to the great im- 

 provement in the art of shooting-flying, and to 

 the inclosure of waste lands. Some few are yet 

 found in Wales ; and in particular parts of the 

 New Forest in Hampshire they are in tolerable 

 plenty, being preserved as ro} r al game, and al- 

 ways excepted in the warrants to kill game there. 

 They are partial to mountainous and woody situ- 

 ations, far removed from the habitations of men. 

 Their food is various ; but principally consists 

 of the mountain fruits and berries, and in winter 

 the tops of heath. It is somewhat remarkable 

 that cherries and pease are fatal to these birds. 

 They perch and roost in tlie same manner as the 

 pheasant. They never pair; but in the spring 

 the males assemble at their accustomed resorts on 

 the tops of heathy mountains when they crow 

 and clap their wings, like the wood grous. 



The female forms an artless nest on the ground; 

 and lays six or eight eggs of a dull yellowish white 

 colour, marked with numerous very small ferrugi- 

 nous specks, and towards the smaller end with 

 some blotches of the same. These are hatched 

 very late in the summer. The young males quit 

 their parent in the beginning of winter, and keep 

 together in flocks of seven or eight till the spring. 

 These birds will live and thrive in menageries, 

 but they have not been known to breed in a state 

 of confinement. In Sweden, however, a spurious 



VOL. IV. NO. '24, C 



