Pb ACT Ey GXXXDe 
‘Thefe birds feed on many kinds of plants, and particularly on the 
tender fhoots and feeds of the Pine and Fir trees, which are in the 
greateft plenty in the forefts they frequent. “The males never affociate 
with the females, except from the beginning of February till the end | 
of March: when the male perches on a tree, with his tail fpread, 
the quills lowered to the feet, the neck protruded, and the feathers 
of the head ruffled. In this pofture it makes a loud and fhrill noife, 
like the whetting of a fcythe, and this it repeats till the females dif- 
cover its haunts. They lay from eight to fixteen eggs, of a white 
colour, fpotted with yellow, and larger than thofe of the common 
hen: thefe are depofited upon mofs, on the ground*. The females 
only, fit the whole time of incubation, and cover the eggs with dry 
leaves when fhe is compelled to leave them. The young run after 
the mother as foon as hatched. 
The flefh of the Wood Grous is much efteemed, except when it 
feeds on the berries of Juniper which communicates a very unpleafant 
tafte to it. 
* Mr. Latham fays of the laft bird of this kind fhot in Scotland, 6 I am well in- 
formed that the neft was placed on a Scotch Pine.” 
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