The female, as will be obferved in the plate, differs in colour 

 very confiderably as well as in fize ; its weight is about two 

 pounds four or five ounces ; the fize is nearly one third lefs 

 than the male ; the tail alfo differs in form, terminating nearly 

 fquare. 



This fpecies chiefly frequents diftricts of this kingdom, 

 affecting the more elevated parts ; they are alfo found on 

 the extenfive heaths and moors in the weft of England ; 

 a few males are fometimes met with in Afhclown-Foreft, 

 Suffex, in the New Foreft, Hampfhire, and in the woods 

 of Lowther, in Weftmoreland. In the autumn they 

 frequently vifit corn-land, but in the winter they take to 

 the woods and are, then very fhy ; their principal food is, 

 the tops of heath and birch ; our friend Mr. J. Go ugh, of 

 Middlefhaw, in Weftmoreland, informs us, " the feeds of 

 the juncus bulbofus, the berries of the empetrum nigrum, and 

 thofe of the rubus chamaemorus, conftitute the favourite food 

 of this fpecies ;'' they alfo feed on the berries of the juniper, 

 and other mountain bearies. 



The Black Grous is polygamous ; early in the fpring the 

 males perch pn the tops of high trees or other elevated fpots, 

 and by crowing and clapping their wings, give notice to the 

 females, whofoon refort to the fpot, when a battle commences, 

 and the victor takes pofTeffion of the females, but has fre- 

 quently to fuftain combats with fuch others of the fex as 

 vifit their retreats ; the female lays fix or feven yellowifh 

 white eggs, fpotted with ruft colour, on any dry grafs or 

 heath, without any appearance of a neft, but moft generally 

 in the midft of a high tuft of heath ; the young are 



feathered 



