﻿G R O U S. 739 



the Shoulder-knot, as Buffon * fuppofes, nor belonging at any 

 rate to the following ; all three being quite different fpecies. 



The manners feem much the fame with the Black Cock and 

 Wood Gr$us : the male placing himfelf on fome elevated (lump, 

 and flapping his wings for a minute j he repeats the fame at 

 feven or eight minutes interval for feveral times, and elevating 

 the creft of the head and neck all together, in the attitude which 

 Edwards has happily imitated. This he repeats morning and 

 evening, at nine and fourj and the fignal is obeyed by the fe- 

 males, as in the birds above-mentioned. During this ecftacy he 

 is blind to the approach of the fportfman -, who may take his aim 

 with leifure, being directed to the bird by the noife, which may 

 be heard a mile off. The male repeats this flapping in autumn f. 

 The female is laid to lay from twelve to fixteen eggs, on the 

 ground, in a dry place among leaves; the young follow the 

 mother like chickens ; and the whole brood keep together, till 

 nature prompts them to provide for an offspring of their 

 own. They feed on all forts of grain and fruits, and, above all, 

 are faid to be fond of ivy-berries. The flelh is well relifhed, and 

 good food. They are called by fome the Drumming Par- 

 tridge. 



* Hift. des oif. ii. p. 282. 



f Major Dailies informs, that the male does this at other times as well as 

 in the breeding-feafon ; and that he begins the flapping at firft very flow, and 

 increafing by degrees till he arrives at a flupendous velocity ; after which he 

 ceafes, and crows like our Cock Phe-afa-nt ; after an interval, begins again. This 

 aftion is only at fun-rife and fun-fet ; and will do the fame if kept tame in the 

 houfe. 



5 B 2 Tetra© 



