LTRUEUS TETRIX. Swain. 
BLACK GROOSE. 
TETRAO TETEIX. Nil!., Faun. Suec., Xo. 202. — Linn.j Syst. Nat., vol. i., ji. 272, sp. 2. — Gould, Birds of Eur., pi. 250. — Jard. & Selb., 111. 
Ornith., pi. 53, 47. — Pall., Zoogr., vol. ii., t. 52. — Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. — Gmel., Syst. Nat., vol. i., p. 748. — Lath., Ind. 
Ornith., vol. ii., p. 635. — Graves, Bi’it. Ornith., vol. ii. — McGill, Brit. Birds, vol. i., p. 145. — Leach, Syst. Oatal. Mam. & Birds, 
Brit. Mus., p. 27.' — -Flem., Brit. Anim., p. 43. — Naum., Vog. Deuts., vol. vi., p. 324, t. 157 (1833). — Jenyids Man. Brit. Yert. 
Anim., p. 169. — Eyton., Catal. Brit. Birds, p. 30. — Keys & Bias., Mdrb. Eur., p. 64. — Bon., Geog. & Comp. List Birds, p. 44, 
No. 295. — Brehni, Vog. Dents, p. 510. — Selby, Brit. Ornith., pi. 58., p. 423. 
COQ DE BRIJYERE A QUEUE FOURCHUE. Buff., Plan. Enlum., pi. 172, 173.— Ib., Hist. Prov., vol. ii., p. 536. 
UROGALLUS MINOR. Eaii Syn., p. 53, A, 2.— Will., p. 124, t. 31.— Briss., vol. i., p. 186.— Albiu., vol. ii., t. 34. 
TETRAS BERKHAN. Temm., Pig. et Gall., vol. iii., p. 140. — Ib., Man. d’Ornith., vol. i., p. 461 and 289 (1815). 
GABEL SCHWANZEGES. Waldhuhn, Bechst. Naturg. Deut., vol. iii., p. 1319. — Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut., vol. i., p. 295. 
TETRAO DERBIANUS. Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 132, 1837. — Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. 
BLACK GROUSE. Penn., Arct. Zool., vol. ii., p. 314. — Will., p. 173, t. 31. — ^Lcwiu’s Brit. Birds, t. 134. — Montg. Ornith. Diet. & Supp. — 
Pnlt. Oat. Dorset, p. 7. — Don., Brit. Birds, 4, t. 97.^ — -Beivick’s Brit. Birds, vol. i., p. 298 (1797). — Penn., Brit. Zool., vol. i., 
p. 352, j)l. 46. — Morris, Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. iii., p. 335, pi. 170. — Thomp., Nat. Hist, of Ireland, vol. iii., p. 34. 
UROGALLUS TETEIX. Kaup., Natur. Sj^st. p. 180. 
TETRAO JUNIPERORUM. Brehin, Yog. Dents., p. 309. 
LYRURUS TETRIX. Swain, Faun. Bor. Anier., p. 497. — Bon., Rev. Ornith. Europ., p. 174. — Gray, Catal. Birds, Brit. Mus., p. 142 
(1850). — Elliot, Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien. (1864). 
This fine bird is distributed generally throughout the northern portions of Europe and Asia, but decreases in numbers as you go 
toward the south. Although it d\vells in the large forests, in places where the birch tree grows, and among the juniper bushes, yet it 
prefers the moors and plains. Its food consists of ants’ eggs, beetles, insects, and various kinds of berries, and in winter the young 
shoots of plants, to get at which it scratches away the snow from beneath the trees. 
The male is a noble-looking bird, walks with a considerable strut, and has a very independent air; while the fine steel blue of his 
plumage, with the scarlet rings around his eyes, give to him a very attractive appearance. The wings are quite short, but its flight is 
rapid, and often well sustained. The Black Grouse is fond of the society of its own species, and generally they live together in small 
flocks or families; the old males, however, prefer to remain aloof from the rest, excepting in the spring. They are wild and quick- 
sighted, and it is difficult to approach them unobserved. 
The pairing season commences about April, and each male usually has a chosen piece of ground to which he resorts every morning 
to associate with the hens, and also to engage in battle with some rival. At this time they are exceedingly pugnacious, and their con- 
flicts are fierce, and prolonged until the weaker is driven away. Sometimes, not satisfied with gaining victories on his own territory over 
all invaders, the black cock will make excursions into the domains of his neighbors, to seek new conflicts with them. 
To see them, at this time, it is necessary to be astir before the day lias begun to dawn. At this early hour, the fluttering of wings 
and the peculiar chuckle in the woods notify us that the black cock is about to seek his mate, and he soon alights in some open 
ground. The hen gives notice of her presence by a low, uncertain note, uttered from her jierch in some tree close by. The habits of 
the male at this particular time are veiy curious and eccentric ; for sometimes five or six will meet together in the same trysting place, 
and, while night holds her sway and the sun has not yet gilded the snowy peaks of the loftiest mountains, they go dancing around 
seemingly a charmed circle, and flutter about as though held by some mystic spell. As each new comer arrives, he utters a low cluck, 
and joins in the curious antics. These round dances are interrupted every moment by several of the birds engaging in a desperate 
struggle, during which they spring into the ,air and beat their wings rapidly, uttering quick and angry clucks. In a work lately pub- 
hshed by Mr. Charles Boner, entitled “Forest Creatures,” is a very interesting account of this species during this period, as witnessed 
bv the author. I give the article in his own words; 
