BLACK GBOUSE. 



TETRAO TETRIX, Linn. 



Tetrao tetrix, Linn. S. N. i. p. 274 (1766) ; Naum. vi. p. 324 ; 

 Macg. i. p. 145 ; Hewitson, i. p. 278 ; Yarr. ed. 4, iii. 

 p. 60; Dresser, vii. p. 205. 



Coq de bruyere, Faisan, French ; Birkhahn, German ; Cua 

 furcada, Catalan. 



This fine and well-known species is resident and more 

 or less common in most of the Scottish and many of 

 our English counties, but from all accounts is gradually 

 decreasing in numbers in all localities. It is not found 

 in Ireland, and it appears that the many attempts made 

 to establish Black-game in that country have hitherto 

 resulted in failure. On the continent of Europe this 

 bird has a wide range, extending, according to the 4th 

 edition of Yarrell's 'British Birds,' from 69° N. lat. to 

 the Apennines, and from South Holland to the Volga. 

 I never met with it in Spain, but have good reason to 

 believe that it is found on the Spanish side of the 

 Pyrenees in Catalonia. I could hear nothing of it in 

 the Cantabrian mountains, where the Capercaillie is 

 well known. 



