of ant eggs, without which, it is fcarcely poffible to rear 

 them ; was it not for the attention thus fhewn by many 

 perfons to the keeping up the flock, this valuable bird would 

 foon be loft to this country, owing to the great demand for it 

 at the tables of the wealthy ; which notwithftanding the 

 penalties of the game laws, offers a great temptation to the 

 poacher, and the bird being unwary, his fnares are feldom 

 placed without effect. 



In the fpring the male may be heard at a diftance, con- 

 tinually crowing and flapping its wings ; at this feafon its 

 wings are a little extended, its tail drooping to the ground ; 

 the fkin on the fides of the head becomes more brilliant, and 

 it erects the feathers that covers the auriculars ; in this flats 

 it marches forth in fearch of the females, around which it 

 ftruts much in the manner of the domeflic cock ; when the 

 female quits it to perform the office of incubation, the male 

 often affociates with the poultry in the neighbouring farm- 

 yards, and will intermix with the common hen ; Bewick fays 

 he has known feveral inflances where they have produced a 

 hybrid breed, but omits to mention whether this fpurious 

 breed is prolific. 



A very curious change frequently takes place in the female, 

 who affumes the plumage of the male, and from that time 

 ceafes to lay ; this flrange transformation does not take place 

 at any particular period of age, as we have feen birds of 

 the fecond and third, up to the fixth year, that have thus 

 altered ; in a paper of the late Mr. John Hunter, publifhed 

 in the Philofophical Tranfactions for the year 178a, he fays, 

 " It is remarked by thofe that are converfant with thefe birds 



when 



