the edge of the beautiful Lake Loch Awe, belonging to the Earl of BREADALBANE; six of these Birds were killed. Another time, when shooting in company with the Marquis of LORN, Eighteen were seen together, but were so wild, there was no possibility of getting near them.

Above the Black Game is the Red Grous; these also as Broods must be near Water, or swampy Ground. Higher up the Hills are the barren Birds, and still higher the Ptarmigans inhabit.

The Black Grous will live and thrive in Menageries, but have not been known to breed in a confined state; although in Sweden it has connected itself with the domestic Hen, and produced a spurious Breed. In the northern parts of Prussia and Siberia they are extremely common wherever the Birch-trees grow; of which, in the Winter, the Black Grous fills its Craw with the Catkins, before it retires under the Snow; and by this means can sustain Life many days without any other Food. Of the Seeds of the Siberian Poplar they are also very fond, and which are said to give their flesh an exceedingly fine Flavour.

It is somewhat remarkable, that Cherries and Pease are fatal to this Bird.

The flesh of several of the Grous kind is more or less inclined to brown; in this Bird, part of the flesh of the breast is white, and called, in the North, the white muscle, and which is peculiar to the Black. Grous from all the species at present known, appearing as a singular Contrast to the surrounding parts which are deep coloured,

In Russia the shooting of the Black Grous is con ducted in the following way:-Huts full of loop holes, like little Forts, are built for this purpose in the Woods frequented by these Birds. Upon the Trees, within shot of these Huts, are placed artificial decoy Birds, commonly made of black Cloth, with the marks of the natural Fowl painted: as the Grous assemble, the Company fire through the Openings, and so long as the Sportsman is concealed, the report of the Gun does not frighten away the Birds: several of them may therefore be killed from the same Tree. If by chance three or four are placed on Branches one above another, the Sportsman has only to shoot the undermost Bird first, and the others gradually upwards in Succession; the uppermost Bird is earnestly employed in looking down after his fallen Companion, and keeps chattering to it till he becomes the next Victim.

During Winter, in Siberia, they take these Birds in the following manner:-a certain number of Poles are laid horizontally on forked sticks, in the open Forests of Birch; small bundles of Corn, by way of allurement, are tied on them, and at a small distance certain tall Baskets of a Conic shape are set, with the broadest part uppermost: just within the Mouth of the Basket is placed a small wheel, through which passes an Axis, so nicely fixed as to admit it to play very readily, and on the least touch, either on one side or the other, to drop down, and again recover its Situation. The Black Grous are soon attracted by the Corn on the hori

1