30 
DUSKY GROUS. 
young precisely in the manner of the common fowl, the chicks 
being carefully protected by the mother only, with whom they 
remain all the autumn and winter, not separating until the return 
of the breeding season. It is only at this period that the males 
seek the society of the females. 
The Grouse are remarkably wild, shy, and untameable birds, 
dwelling in forests or in barren uncultivated grounds, avoiding 
cultivated and thickly inhabited countries, and keeping together 
in families. The Lagopodes only live in very numerous flocks 
composed of several broods, parting company when the return of 
spring invites them to separate in pairs of different sexes, which 
is always done by the birds of this division. Except in the 
breeding season, the Grouse keep always on the ground, alighting 
on trees only when disturbed, or when going to roost at night; 
by day retiring to the deepest part of the forest. The flesh of 
all Grouse is delicious food, dark-coloured in some, and white in 
others, the dark being more compact, juicy, and richly flavoured, 
as in Tetrao cupido; while the white, though somewhat dry, is 
distinguished for delicacy and lightness. Such are the Bonasias, 
T. umbellus of America, and T. bonasia of Europe. 
The Grouse are distinguished by a short stout bill, feathered 
at base, and they are of all gallinaceous birds those in which the 
upper mandible is the most vaulted: the feathers of the bill are 
very thick and close, and cover the nostrils entirely. The tongue 
is short, fleshy, acuminate, and acute. The eye is surmounted 
by a conspicuous red and papillous naked space. The tarsi are 
generally spurless in both sexes, and partly or wholly covered 
with slender feathers, which in the Lagopodes are thicker and 
longer than in the rest, extending not only beyond the toes, but 
growing even on the sole of the foot; a peculiarity which, agree¬ 
ably to the observation of Buffon, of all animals is again met 
with only in the hare. These feathers in winter become still 
