a 
gb THE NATURAL HISTORY 
They are very fond of wild cherries, and fre- 
quently fwallow them whole. y 
“Though in general they rooft -on trees, yet 
they lay their eggs in a hole in the ground, which 
they line with leaves, or dried grafs; they breed 
twice a year, laying twelve or fifteen eggs. 
Their flight is fhort and heavy, but they run 
very {wiftly.. 
‘They go in flocks, and are feldom feen alone, 
Or even in pairs, They are frequently calling 
one another, efpecially morning and evening; 
their cry is low, trembling, and mournful, and 
olten betrays them to the fowler, 
Of thefe birds there are feveral Species. 
Firft, The Great Finamou. ‘The top of the 
head is a reddifh brown, the body a greyith olive 
brown, upper part of the back, wing Coverts, 
and tail, marked with dufky fpots. 
The female lays fifteen eggs of a ‘beautiful 
green, the fize of a Hen’s. She makes her neft 
on the ground, near the ftump of a tree, and if 
fhe thinks it is difcovered, fhe rolls the eggs to 
another place at fome diftance. “The young fol- 
low their parent as foon as they are hatched, and 
hide themfelves on the firft. apprehenfion ¢ of | 
danger, 

