236 
YERTEBRATA. 
and tender shoots of fir. Early in the spring the cock has a habit of seating himself on a tree 
and beginning a love song, in which he cries out, peller, pellcr^ pdler ; at the sanic time he raises 
and spreads his tail, lowers his wings, ruffles up his feathers, and in fact appears like a strutting 
turkey-cock. On hearing this call, the .hens in the neighborhood croak like ravens, and at the 
same time gather around the cock, who now descends from his perch, and takes charge of the 
flock. The nest of this species is made on the ground, and the hen lays six to twelve eggs ; the 
males now skulk away and leave the females to hatch and take care of the young. These birds 
are common in Sweden and other wooded portions of Northern Europe ; they have become scarce 
in Scotland, where they were once abundant, though recent attempts to restock the woods have 
been partially successful. This bird has been occasionally domesticated, and has bred in that 
state ; it has also bred with the black grouse. 
BLACK GEOUSE. 
The Black Grouse or Black Cock, T. tetrix, is twenty-two inches long; general color 
black ; it is partial to bogs and morasses, where the herbage is rank ; in summer it feeds on seeds, 
leaves, and insects ; in autumn on berries and the buds of trees. Like the preceding, it does not 
pair, but a male in the spring issues his call from some elevated spot, which is heard by the 
females, who assemble upon this invitation ; the male now displays himself in various attitudes, 
spreading his tail and trailing his wings, and at last utters a crowing note, which may be heard 
for the distance of half a mile. These performances prove irresistible, and he becomes master of 
the flock. He remains with them, however, only till incubation begins, when he retires to the 
woods, and leaves the care of the several families to their respective mothers. These birds are 
abundant in Norway and Sweden, and the London market is chiefly supplied from this source 
through the winter ; they are found throughout Northern and Middle Europe ; in England and 
Scotland there are considerable numbers of them. Hybrids between this species and the pheasant 
have been frequently produced. 
