GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 
69 
haunts of men, and almoat m far from food and wa- 
ter, but endowed wilti powtTtj for exli'nsive locotno- 
tuiiit tliey' traverse in a day leaf^iit^H. of the waste. 
A few species are poly;rfini(jtis like live former fa- 
mily, ihe maleaat dawn Ri'ekini^ 8ome eminence, and 
attracting the females liytWir coininued CiiiU, strut- 
ting^ aruund aiid <lisp1ayiiig ilieir j)lutn!i<;e ; but by 
far J he {greater nuirdnT are nionogamouH, and regu- 
larly pair. The male remains near his consort du- 
ring,'' incubation, and bulb sedu}ous.ly attend upon 
and ilefeiid the youn^, which keep together in coveys 
until the warmtli of the followtji^ »pn"g exctiea new 
desires, and causes their separation. All breed up- 
on tlie^fround, makijitr sc^trreiy any nest, and, with a 
few exceptioiiH, they lay a number of e«;<is. In oae 
or two iiistani-eia, two brooiLs are hatched in the sea- 
son, but thii is rare, and only continues where tha 
regiosia inhabited arc veiy warm. The cry of most 
of thi'ise birds Is har^li, in a few deep and hoarse ; it 
ifl uttered only in the breedimg' season, in cases of 
dispei-sion, and at morn and even like a roll-call to 
Bee that none are wanting. The plumage is subject 
to nniHidprahle variatimi between llie nmles and fe- 
nudea during the hn^eding; season, ainl in those whicb 
inhabit northern regioitii or alpine districts, a change 
of plumage iti winter, diHerent from that of »prtng 
or Humnier, takes place. 
Among the true grouse, such as the wood-grouse, 
black-cock, and beautiful birds of Anieriea, the tiiales 
are disiin^ui^ted by a plumage of deep glossy black, 
