THE WOOD GROUS. 19 



Description Habitations. 



THE WOOD GROUS, OR COCK OF 

 THE WOOD 



IS almost the size of a turkey, and often weighs 

 near fourteen pounds; but the female is much 

 smaller. The head and neck are ash-colour, 

 crossed with black lines ; the body and wings 

 chesiiut brown, and the breast of a very glossy 

 blackish green. The legs are strong, and cover- 

 ed with brown feathers. The plumage of the fe- 

 male differs from this description, in being red 

 about the throat, and having the head, neck, 

 and back, crossed with red and black bars; the 

 belly barred with orange and black, with the tips 

 of the feathers white, as are also the tips of the 

 shoulders; indeed, she is altogether so very dif- 

 ferent, that she might be supposed to belong to 

 another species. 



The wood grous is chiefly fond of a mountain- 

 ous, or woody situation. In winter he resides in 

 the deepest recesses of the woods, and in sum- 

 mer he ventures down from his seclusion, to 

 make short depredatio^B on the farmer's corn : 

 but in these excursions he seems to be perfectly 

 aware of his danger, and is constantly upon his 

 guard ; so much so, indeed, that it is then very 

 difficult to come near him by surprise, and very 

 few are taken but by those who in autumn pur- 

 sue him into his natural retreats, and which is 



