The female, as will he dhferved 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 diflri6ls of this kingdom, 
affedling the more elevated parts ; they are alfo found on 
the extenfive heaths and moors in the weft of England i 
a few males are fometimes met with in Afhdown-Foreft, 
SuiTex, in the New Foreft, Hampfliire, 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. Gough, of 
Middlefhaw, in Weftmoreland, informs us, the feeds of 
the juncus bulbofus, the berries of the empetrum nigrum, and 
thofe of the rubus chamasmorus, conftitute the favourite food 
of this fpecies i** they alfo feed on the berries of the juniper, 
and other mountain be^rries. 
The Black Grous is polygamous ; early in the fpring the 
males perch on 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 vidor takes poiTefTion 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 oi heath \ the young are 
feathered 
