li! l i
LTEUEUS TETEIX. S w a in .
BLACK GlìODSE.
TliTRAO TUTRIX. Nili., Faun. Siiec., No. 203.—làmi,, Syst. Nat., voi. i., p. 272, ,?p. 2.—Gould, Jiivds of lOuv., pi. 250.—Javd. & Selb., 111.
Orniti!., pi. 53, 47.—Fall,, Zoogv., voi. ii., t. 52.—Gray, Geii. of Birds, vol. iii.—Gincl., Syst. Nat., voi. i., p. 748.—Lath., Iiid.
Oriiith., voi. ii., p. 635.—Graves, Brit. Oruitli., l’ol. ii.—McGill, Brit. Birds, vol. i., p. 145.—Loach, Syst. Catal. Mam. & Birds,
Brit. Mus., p. 27.—Flom., Brit. Anim., p. 43.—Naum., Vog. Dcuts., vol. vi., p. 324, t. 157 (1833),—Jciiyn’s Man. Brit. Vert.
Aiiim., p. 169.—Eyton., Catal. Brit. Birds, p. 30.—Keys & Bias., AVirb. Eur., p. 64.—Bon,, Oeog. & Comp. List Birds, |i. 44,
No. 295.—Brclim, Vog. Dents, )>. 510.—Selby, Brit. Oiiiitli., pi, 58., p. 423.
COQ DB BRUYÉRE À QUEUE FOUKCIIUE. Buff., Plan. Euluui., pi. 172, 173.—Ib., Hist. Prov., vol. ii., p. 536.
OROGALLUS MINOR. Raii Syii,, p. 53, A, 2.—Will., p. 124, t. 31.—liriss,, vol. i,, p. 186.—Albin., vol. ii., t. 34.
'J'ETRAS BERKHAN. Tciiiiu,, Pig. et Gall., vol. iii., p. 140.—Ib., Man. d’Ornitli., vol. i., p. 461 and 289 (1815).
GABEL SCHW.AXZiiGES. AValdhuliii, Beclist. Naturg. Dent., vol. iii., p. 1319.—Moyer, Tatschcub. Dent., vol. i., p. 295.
TE'l'RAO DEUBIANUS. Gonld, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 132, 1837.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii.
BliACK. GROUSE. Perni., Arct. Zool, vol. ii., p. 314.—AVill, p. 173, t. 31,—Lcivin's BiR. Bii'ds, t. 134.—Moiitg. Ornith. Dict. k Supp,—
Pult, Cat. Dorset, p. 7.—Don., Brit. Birds, 4, t. 97.—Beivick’s Brit. Birds, vol i., p. 298 (1797).—Penn., Brit. Zool, vol i.,
p. 353, pi. 46.—Morris, Hist. Brit. *Birds, vol. ill, p. 333, pi. 170.—Thomp., Nat. Hist, of Ireland, vol. iii., p. 34.
UROGALLUS TETRIX. Kaup., Natuv. Syst. p. ISO.
TE'l'RAO JUNIPERORUM. Brchm, Vog. Dcuts., p. 309.
LYRURUS TETRIX. Swain, Uami. Bor. Amer., p. 497.—Bon., Rev. Orniti). Europ., p. 174.—Gray, Catal. Birds, Brit. Mas., ]), 142
(1850).—Elliot, Proc. Acad. Nat. Scieu. (1864).
This fine bird is distributed generally throughout tlic nortlicvn portions of Jiiiropc and Asia, hut dccrea.sos in numbers as you go
toward tlie soutli. Altliough it dwells in tlic large forest.-;, in places where the birch tree grows, and Hiiiong tho juniper biislies, yet it
prcfei-s the mooi-s 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 fi-om beneath the trees.
The male is a noblc-looking bird, walks witli a considerable strut, and lias a very independent air; wliile tlio line steel blue of Ids
pliuiiagc, with tlic scarlet rings around Ids eyes, give to him a vciy attractive aiipcarancc. Tlic wings are quite short, but its flight is
rapid, and often well sustained. The Black Grouse is fond of the society of its own spccie.s, and generally tiicy live together in small
flocks or families; tlic old males, however, prefer to remain aloof from tlic rest, cxco[)ting in the spring. They ai-c wild and quick-
siglited, iind it is dilficult to approacii tlicm unobserved.
Tlie [laiving season commences about April, and each male nsnally lia.s a chosen piece of ground to wliich lie resorts every morning
to associate witli the bens, and also to engage in battle with some rival. At this time tlicy are exceedingly pugnacious, and their conflicts
arc fierce, and prolonged until the «oakcr is driven aivay. Sometimes, not satisfied with gaining victories on Ids own territory over
all invadci-s, the black cock will make c.xcui-sions into the domnin.s of Ids ncighbor.s, to .seek now conflicts with them.
To see them, at this time, it is iicccssiiry to bo astir I'cforc the day has begun to dawn. .Vt this early hour, the fluttering of wings
and the pecnlinr cliucklc in the ivoods notify ns that the black cock is about to seek Ids mate, and he soon alights in some open
gvoiuid. The hen gives notice of her presence by a low, uncci-tain note, iittcrc I from her perch in some ti-cc close by. The habits of
the male at this pni-ticulav time arc very curious and eccentric; for sometimes live 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 loflie.st mouiitain.s, they go dancing around
soeinhigly a charmed circle, and tlnttcr about as tlioiigli lield by some mystic spell. A.s cacb new comer aii-ives, he nttcra a low cluck,
and joins in tiie curious antics. Tlie-c roxind dances ai-e interrupted every monioiit by sevei-al of the birds cngaging*iii a desperate
struggle, during ivbich tlicy spring into tlic air and beat their ivings rapidly, uttering quick and angry clucks. In a work lately published
by Mi-. Cliarlcs Boner, entitled "Forest Crcatiu-cs,” is a very interesting account of tins species during this period, as witnessed
by the iintlior. I give the article ii II words:
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