. A history of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . ts wingsare short, and its tail jendulous, like that of the Par-tridge : its legs are of a dark colour. This species, which is now very common in this coun-try, was originally brought from Africa, whence it hasbeen diffused over every part of Europe, the West Indies,and America: it formed a part of the Roman banquets,and is now much esteemed as a delicacy, especially whenyoung. The female lays a great number of eggs, whichshe frequently secretes till she has produced her youngbrood: the egg is smaller than that of a common Hen,and o
. A history of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . ts wingsare short, and its tail jendulous, like that of the Par-tridge : its legs are of a dark colour. This species, which is now very common in this coun-try, was originally brought from Africa, whence it hasbeen diffused over every part of Europe, the West Indies,and America: it formed a part of the Roman banquets,and is now much esteemed as a delicacy, especially whenyoung. The female lays a great number of eggs, whichshe frequently secretes till she has produced her youngbrood: the egg is smaller than that of a common Hen,and of a rounder shape ; it is very delicious eating. The Pintado is a restless and a very clamorous bird;it has a harsh creaking note, which is very grating andunpleasant: it scrapes the ground like the Hen, and rollsin the dust to free itself from insects. During the nightit perches on high places ; if disturbed, it alarms everything within hearing by its unceasing cry. In its naturalstate of freedom it is said to prefer marshy places. 2 o 2 294 BRITISH THE WOOD GROUSE. COCK OF THE WOOD, OR CAPERCAILE.{Tetrao urogallus, Lin.—Le grand Coq de Bruyere, Buff.) This bird is as large as the Turkey, is about two feetnine inches in length, and weighs from twelve to fifteenpounds. The bill is very strong, convex, and of a horncolour; over each eye there is a naked skin, of a brightred colour: the eyes are hazel; the nostrils are small,and almost hid under a covering of short feathers, whichextend under the throat, and are there much longer thanthe rest, and of a black colour; the head and neck areelegantly marked with small transverse lines of black and BRITISH BIRDS. 295 ^ey, as are also the back and wings, but more irregular-ly ; the breast is black, richly glossed with green on theupper part, and mixed with a few white feathers on thebelly and thighs; the sides are marked like the neck ;the tail consists of eighteen feathers, which are black,those on the sides are marked with
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