175 
TIIE COMMON BLACK GROUSE. 
Lyrurus tetrix — Swainson. 
PLATE XXI. Male.— PLATE XXII. Female. 
Tetrao tetrix, Linnmus Black Grouse, Blaek Cock, Male : 
Grey Hen, Female, Pennant, &c Blaek Grouse, Selby, 
Illustrations, Iviii. and Iviii.* p. 423. 
The most proper place to have described this 
beautiful bird was after the true American grouse, 
the ptarmigan being more naturally succeeded by the 
next Plate (PI. XXIII.) As it is, it has been placed 
here, and we must refer to the conclusion for the si- 
tuation of the different groups. 
This species is pretty generally spread over Eu- 
rope, being found in France and Germany, while, as 
we reach the north, in Russia, Sweden, Norway, &c. 
it becomes very abundant. In Britain it occurs in 
the three countries, most sparingly, however, in 
England, from the rich cultivation and champagne 
character of tlie country. Tlie New Forest, Hamp- 
shire, Somerset, and the wild parts of Staffordshire, 
can boast of it, bat these are nearly all the Eng- 
lish stations, until we reach the borders, where it 
becomes abundant in the wild districts, which con- 
duct to its still more frequent haunts in Scotland, 
