﻿Manneri. 



742 G R O U S. 



3re afh-coloured in fummer, and white in winter ; the two next 

 flightly marked with white near the ends j the reft wholly black : 

 the upper tail coverts almoft cover the tail. 

 Place *k» This inhabits moft of the northern parts of Europe, even as 



far as Groenland, and is very common in Rujfia and Sibiria j it 

 likewife frequents the Alpine mountains of Savoy, and is feen in 

 plenty on the Alps and mount Cenis. With us it is chiefly met 

 with on the fummits of the higheft hills of the Highlands of 

 Scotland; they are alfo not uncommon in the Hebrides and 

 Orknies ■, and a few ft ill inhabit the lofty hills near Ke/wick in 

 Cumberland, as well as in Wales. 



The female lays eight or ten eggs, fpotted with red-brown, the 

 fize of thofe of a Pigeon, on the earth, in a ftony fituation, about 

 the middle of June, in this imitating the reft of the Grous genus. 

 Thefe are often met with in flocks in winter, and are ftupid 

 filly birds, fuffering themfelves to be eafily knocked on the 

 head, or driven into any fnare that is fet for them. Their food 

 confifts of the buds of trees, young fhoots of pine, heath, fruits, 

 and berries, which grow on the mountains : on the continent 

 feed greatly on the dwarf birch and black-berried heath, and 

 fometimes on the various kinds of liverwort. Suppofed to be 

 monogamous ; for if the hen is killed the male will not forfake 

 her, fo may be killed alfo with great eafe. The Groenlanders 

 have a way of taking them with noofes tied to a long line, 

 which being carried between two' men, is drawn over their heads. 

 In Nova Scotia they are called Birch Partridges. 



