THE WOOD-GROUSE. 78 
eggs, and insects ; and his gizzard, like that 
of domestic fowls, contains a quantity of gra- 
vel, which is supposed to assist his powers of 
digestion. 
The Wood-grouse begins early to feel the 
genial influence of spring; and its courtship 
may be said to continue till the trees are en- 
tirely clothed with foliage and the forest is in 
full verdure; and as he now seems entirely 
deaf and insensible of danger, this is the time 
that sportsmen generally take to shoot him. 
Upon all other occasions he is the most timid 
and vigilant of birds. 
