distance from the land. While often found in fair or calm weather, it is due to deep-water disturbances from heavy winds. Where the water is very shoal the swell or roller breaks as it rolls in, forming a series of breakers which smooth down again before reaching shore, if the flat is of great extent.
GROUND-TACKLE. Anchors and chains, and tackles, ropes, etc., used in working the anchors are included by the general expression ground-tackle. See Anchor.
GROUND-THRUSH. A pitta (q.v.).
GROUP (Fr. groupe, from It. gruppo, groppo, cluster, knot, borrowed from the Germanic; cf. OHG. kropf, Ger. Kropf, AS. cropp, Eng. crop). In the fine arts, a collection of figures or objects related to each other, and to a general design, so combined as to produce a harmonious whole. For the principles of grouping, conventional and otherwise, see Composition.
GROUPER (probably from Sp. garrupa, from the American Indian name). A general name for the fishes of the genus Epinephelus, typical of the group Epinephalinæ, a section of the sea-bass family Serranidæ. It is the largest, most widely distributed, and most important genus of the Serranidæ. They are mainly of large size, and occur frequently in all the tropical seas, where they are valuable for food. About a dozen species are known on the southern coast of the United States, and about the West Indies, where various ones are called ‘cabrilla,’ ‘cherna,’ ‘guasa,’ and ‘mero’ by Spanish-speaking fishermen, ‘hind’ in the British Islands and at the Cape of Good Hope, and ‘jewfish’ (q.v.) in Florida. They have a robust, powerful form, and are usually greenish-gray, or orange-brown, varied with many blotches and bars, and with dark fins—on the whole very handsome fishes. The best known and most common American species is the red grouper (Epinephelus morio), which ranges from Virginia to Brazil. It averages about two feet in length, and is generally gray, but reddish about the mouth, this color deepening and spreading with age. It remains near the bottom, not far from shore, feeds on crabs and small fish, and when caught offers no resistance. It is an important food-fish, but not of the first quality in flavor. Another much smaller species (Epinephelus maculosus) is the ‘red hind’ or ‘cabrilla,’ so constantly seen in the markets of Havana. The common Bermudan grouper (Epinephelus striatus) is larger; and the ‘rock hind’ or ‘cabra mora’ (Epinephelus Adscensionis), which is also known on the African coast, ranks highest of all as a table fish. The black grouper of Key West (Mycteroperca bonaci), also called ‘aguaji,’ represents an allied genus, several species of which are called ‘groupers,’ ‘rockfish,’ or ‘bonacis,’ and are large and important food-fishes. The great jewfish or warsaw (Garrupa nigrita) is also sometimes denominated ‘black grouper.’ See Guasa; Jewfish; Rockfish; Sea-Bass; Scamp; and Colored Plate of Philippine Fishes.
GROUPS (in mathematics). See Substitution.
GROUSE (a false singular, after the analogy of louse, mouse, as singulars of lice, mice, from grice, grise, greese, gray, from OF. griesche, gray, moor-hen, variant of gris, gray, from OHG. grīs, Ger. greis, gray). A game-bird of that section of the rough-footed gallinaceous family Tetraonidæ which includes the larger forms; one of the Tetraoninæ. They are distinguished among birds of their class by their completely feathered shanks (except Bonasa); also by the fact that feathers fill the nasal groove and conceal the nostrils. The toes usually are naked, but are feathered to the claws in ptarmigans (q.v.), and they have pectinations of scales along the edges, which are deciduous. The tail-feathers are from 16 to 18 and sometimes even 22 in number; and in shape the tail is acute, rounded, or forked. The orbital region usually is somewhat bare, and there is above the upper eyelid a naked stripe, marked by short, fringe-like processes. Many genera have an inflatable air-sac on the side of the neck. Often the sides of the neck are further adorned by elongated feathers. The plumage is thick, soft, and handsome, but gay colors and patterns are absent; blacks, purples, and dark greens occur in some forms, but variegated browns, reds, and grays prevail in most species, and there is usually a considerable difference in color and ornamentation between the sexes and some seasonal changes; one genus (Lagopus) turns white in winter. (See Ptarmigan.) The grouse, as a rule, are birds of the forest, but some genera are found in open regions only, and the ptarmigans chiefly inhabit mountain-tops. All, however, seek their food principally and nest wholly on the ground. The food consists of seeds, berries, buds, leaves, insects, worms, small snails, and so on, varying with region, season, and opportunity. The nest is a rude bed of leaves, twigs, and the like, and from six to fifteen eggs are laid, which are brownish and spotted—among the ptarmigans very heavily. All except the ptarmigans are polygamous, and the cocks indulge in demonstrative courtships (see Capercaillie), make various sounds with their wings (see below), and contest fiercely for the possession of their harems, as is the habit of most gallinaceous birds. They trust mainly to concealment for safety, and remain motionless on the ground or perched in a tree until fear overcomes their prudence, when they spring away with a startling whirr of the wings and astonishing speed. Hence trained dogs are needed to find and flush them, and much skill in shooting is required to bring them down in flight, but some of the forest-haunting species will not leave the supposed safety of a tree-perch and are easily killed. They are favorites of sportsmen wherever they occur, and all are most excellent eating, except the few, whose flesh is tainted by their bitter or resinous food. Great numbers are shot for the markets in all northern countries. A brief account of the principal species follows:
Capercaillie and Blackcock. The largest of all grouse is the European capercaillie (q.v.). Next in importance to it in Europe ranks the blackcock or heathcock (Tetrao tetrix), which is the bird to which the name ‘grouse’ primarily applies, although in popular English speech the red grouse or moor-fowl is meant. On the Continent it occurs both in mountainous and marshy countries, as far south as the Apennines. It abounds in most parts of Scandinavia, Russia, and Siberia, and is abundant in Great Britain wherever there are extensive moors or favorable spaces for it. The male, which is much larger than the female, and sometimes weighs four
