S7 
BED GROUSE, 
CHAPTER IV. 
GROUSE : — THE RED AND BLACK GROUSE — CAPERCAILZIE 
— ■• PTARMIGAN. 
THE Tetraonine Birds, as some naturalists term Grouse, 
are closely allied to the Pheasants and Partridges. 
They are generally bulky birds, with very full bodies, but 
moderately long necks, and small oblong-shaped heads. 
The bills and feet are short and stout : the former having 
the tips rounded, and the latter having the tarsus partially 
or entirely featliered ; the hind toe is small and somewhat 
elevated, and the claws are moderately long, arched, and 
blunt. The wings are short, convex, and rounded, and 
the tail generally short and broad. Members of this family 
are found chiefly in the arctic and temperate regions. 
They feed on twigs, buds, and herbage, and make their 
nests on the ground, the eggs being numerous, and spotted. 
They have a heavy, direct, but rapid flight, and run with 
great speed. The four species found in Britain are des- 
cribed in this chapter. Macgillivray divides them into 
two genera, to one of which he gives the name Tetrao, and 
to the other Lagopus. 
