42 
NATURAL .HISTORY. 
they had it. We have given it the name of that part of 
Africa from whence probably it was first brought. ‘ 
In many parts of their native country they are seen in vast 
flocks together, feeding their young, and leading them in 
quest of food. All their habits are like those of the poultry 
kind, and they agree in every other respect, except that the 
ma e and female are so much alike, that they can hardly be 
distinguished asunder. Their eggs, like their bodies, are 
spec led; m our climate, they lay but five or six in a season; 
but they are far more prolific in their sultry regions at home. 
1 here is a species of this bird with a very beautiful crest. 
to describe** S ° S ° U1C ° ther vaneties vvhich lt would be tedious 
The Gkous - This genus of birds comprehends about 
seventeen species, foreign and domestic, all of which are dis- 
tinguishable from other birds of the poultry order, by a naked 
scarlet skin above each eye. They have in other respects a 
great resemblance to our domestic fowl, but in reality are a 
veiy different race. They are by no means so numerous at 
piesent m any part of Europe, as we have reason to believe 
they once were. The piny forests and the barren heaths are 
their natural retreats; and since cultivation has increased in 
these countries, they are only to be found on such extensive 
themoon 3 of Westmorland, and t]le almost inacces _ 
sib le mountains m the most northern parts of Great Britain. 
lhe uood grous, or cock of the xt'oocl is the first of this srenus 
in order and in consequence. It is about the size of a turkey 
and frequently weighs near fourteen pounds; but the female 
—“ r - fi Lh | e h , Cad a " d neck are ash-colour, crossed 
, 'h hlaclc lines, the body and wings chesnut brown, and the 
breast of a very glossy blackish green. The leo-s are strong 
fon i C T£? 7 th bf ? w ? leathers. The plumage of the 
female differs from this description, in being red about the 
>roat, and having the head, neck and back crossed with red 
the tipsoft^efr’ntl! 16 b 1h Wdw i th ? ran S e and black, with 
th S^» 6rS " V 38 are ;l so i he ' ‘'PS of the shoulders. 
nriilballv u ! ■! *7’ 7^ 16 fo, ' eSt ’ attaches himself 
pimcipalty to the oak and the pine-tree; the cones nf 
latter serving for his food, and the thick boughs for an habi- 
tation. He feeds also upon ants’ eggs, which seem a hmh 
delicacy to all birds of the poultry kind: cranberries are like- 
wise often found in his crop. The female is much less than 
her mate, and entirely unlike him in plumage, so that she 
might be mistaken for a bird of another species. She seldom 
a} S more than s,x or seveu e 8S s > which are white, and marked 
