. Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs . ic Circle,in Scandinavia, Finland, and central Russia; but its numbersdecrease as the countries approach the middle of Europe andthe south. In Italy and France, Switzerland, the JuraMountains, and Holland, it is by no means scarce; and inGreat Britain it is found in many counties. The chief hauntof the Black Grous is on a light sandy soil, where theprincipal vegetation consists in heather and birch trees. Insome countries this bird goes by the name of the birch hen,in consequence of its partiality to these trees. Large forestsare by n
. Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs . ic Circle,in Scandinavia, Finland, and central Russia; but its numbersdecrease as the countries approach the middle of Europe andthe south. In Italy and France, Switzerland, the JuraMountains, and Holland, it is by no means scarce; and inGreat Britain it is found in many counties. The chief hauntof the Black Grous is on a light sandy soil, where theprincipal vegetation consists in heather and birch trees. Insome countries this bird goes by the name of the birch hen,in consequence of its partiality to these trees. Large forestsare by no means the habitation of the Black Grous, butuncultivated spots, where the birch tree flourishes, as wellas the juniper bushes, and all such as bear berries, andheather of every kind ; there must also be here and therean open spot of peat soil, covered with heath and mossonly. In some localities where the ground is entirely covered withthe common heather (Erica vulgaris), and where no tree ismet with in any shape, the Black Grous is found in great BLACK GROUS. 77 plenty ; not only in flat or undulating countries, but high upin the mountains, where the growth of trees becomes the north, the Black Grous frequents the valleys; andthe nearer the countries where this bird is met with approachthe south, the mere it keeps to the higher parts of themountains. This, as a matter of course, is in consequenceoi the nature of the vegetation, for the bird avoids thickwoods or forests, as before mentioned. The male of the Grous now before us is a very shybird, and, owing to its sharp sight and ear, as well as itsscent, it is approached but with great caution. In a naturalstate the male bird runs about on the ground with aproud spririt, carrying its head high, whereas the hengoes about crouching and modestly. The Black Grousruns very fast; and although its wings are rather short, itflies quickly, and, if necessary, to a considerable this bird knows how to run
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, bookidcoloured, booksubjectbirds
