BLACK COCK. 
45 
The female weighs about two pounds ; the plumage is very different 
from that of the male ; the general colour is ferruginous, barred and 
mottled, with black above, the under parts paler, with dusky and brown 
bars ; the tail-feathers are straight and even at the end, variegated with 
ferruginous and black. 
The Black Grous is at present confined to the more northern parts 
of this kingdom, population and culture having driven them from the 
south, except in a few of the more wild, uncultivated parts ; in the 
New Forest in Hampshire, Dartmoor and Sedgmoor in Devonshire, 
and the heathy hills in Somersetshire, contiguous to the latter. It is 
also found in Staffordshire, and in North Wales, and again in the North 
of England ; but no where so plentiful as in some parts of the highlands 
of Scotland. The males are polygamous, and fight desperately for the 
females. 
In the month of April the male places himself on an eminence as soon 
as it is light in the morning, crows and claps his wings, on which the 
females resort to his station. After the courting season the males 
associate peaceably together in small packs ; are fond of woody, heathy 
and mountainous situations ; but will occasionally visit the corn-fields 
in the autumn, retiring almost wholly to the woods in the winter, and 
perching on trees. 
The female lays six or seven dirty white eggs, blotched with rust- 
colour, about the size of those of a pheasant. These are deposited 
amongst the highest heath, without much appearance of a nest. 
The young follow the female for some time. The males are scarcely 
distinguishable from the other sex till they are above half grown, when 
the black feathers begin to appear first about the sides and breast. 
Their food is chiefly the tops of heath and birch, except when the 
mountain berries are ripe, at which time they devour bilberries and 
cranberries most voraciously. 
* A supposed hybrid bird of this species, has been described under the 
following synonimes : * 
Tetrao hybridus, Faun. Suec. No. 201. — Tetra tetrix, Ind. Orn. 2. p, 636. 3. 5. 
GmehSyst, 1. p. 784. 2.y. — Urogallus minor punctatus. Bms. l.p.191. A. — Ib, 
8vo. 1. p. 53. — Spurious Grous, Br. Zool. l.p.268. — Arct. Zool. 2. p. 314. B. — 
Ib. Supp. p. 62. — Lath. Syn. 4. p. 734. — Ib. Supp. p. 214, 
This bird has been described by Linnaeus and others as a distinct 
species, or mixed breed between the black and wood grous. It is said 
to differ from the black grous in having reddish spots on the neck, 
breast, wings, and thighs, and in being of a superior size. It is said 
to have been formerly met with in Scotland. 
