(O08 BES Basus & 
feed too on blackberries, beech matt, and ants 
‘Ser >. | 
The female is lefs cea the male, and her 
plumage not fo dark, yet the colours are more 
varied, and not lefs beautiful. | 
The breeding feafon begins about the latter: 
end of March: then the cock is generally feen 
on fome large pine tree, with his tail raifed and 
fpread in a circle, like a Turkey cock’s; his, 
4 wings trailing, his neck ftretched forward, and 
the feathers of the head briftled; he makes a 
loud, and very fingular noife, by a he calls 
- the hens ; they immediately anfwer, and come to: 
- the tree Scr he is perched. At other times the 
Wood Grous is fo fhy that it is almoft impoflible 
to.come near him. Then. he is fo lite omhis _ 
- guard, that he may eafily be fhot. The females 
jay, as fome fay, from five to nine, but accord- 
_ ing to others from eight to fixteen eggs; they are 
larger than a Hen’s, and white, fpotted with yel- 
a low. Thefe eggs are placed on mofs, in a dry 
place. The female fits and is never relieved 
a 
by the male, when fhe leaves her neft for 
food, fhe carefully covers the eggs with leaves. 
The little ones run about.as feon as they are. | 
hatched, and fometimes indeed with the fhells on 
their backs; the mother leads them with great 
iety,; ee care 


