304 BRITISH BIRjDS* 
white in winter, the two next fLightly marked with 
white near the ends, the red are wholly black ; the 
upper tail coverts are long, and almod cover the 
tail. 
The White Groufe is fond of lofty fituations, 
where it braves the fevered cold : It is found in 
mod of the northern parts of Europe, even as far 
as Greenland ; in this country it is only to be met 
with on the fummits of fome of our highed hills, 
chiefly in the highlands of Scotland, in the Heb- 
rides and Orkneys, and fometimes, but rarely, on 
the lofty hills of Cumberland and Wales. Buffon, 
fpeaking of this bird, fays, that it avoids the folar 
heat, and prefers the biting frods on the tops of 
mountains ; for, as the fnow melts on the fides of 
the mountains, it condantly afcends, till it gains 
the fummit, where it forms holes, and burrows in 
the fnow. They pair at the fame time with the 
Groufe ; the female lays eight or ten eggs, which 
are white, fpotted with brown ; fhe makes no ned 9 
but depofits them on the ground. In winter they 
fly in flocks, and are fo little accudomed to the 
fight of man, that they fuffer themfelves to be ea- 
fily taken either with the fnare or gun. They feed 
on the wild productions of the hills, which fome- 
times give the flefh a bitter tade, but not unpalate» 
able ; it is dark coloured, and according to M« 
Buffon has fome what the flavour of hare. 
