_—

ee

a

Genus TETRAO, Linn.

Gen. Cuar. Bill short, strong; upper mandible convex, and arched from the base to the tip.
Nostrils basal, lateral, partly closed by an arched scale, and hidden from view by small
closely set feathers. Eyebrows naked, and adorned with a red papillose and fringed skin.
Wings short; first quill much inferior in length to the second, which is shorter than the
third and fourth. Tadl of sixteen feathers. Feet with three toes before, united as far as
the first joint, and one behind, short, the edges of all pectinated. Tarsz feathered to the

toes.

CAPERCAILZIE, OR COCK OF THE WOOD.

Tetrao Urogallus, Lunn.

Le Tetras Auerhan.

Tuis noble bird, the largest of the Grouse tribe, was once common in the forests of Scotland, and, in
all probability, in the northern parts of our island ; for centuries, however, it has been gradually diminishing
in number until at length it has become completely extinct there. Mr. Selby informs us that “the last
individual of this species in Scotland was killed about forty years ago, near Inverness; previous to which
date the breed had become extinct in Ireland.”

Those who wish to see this bird in a state of nature must visit the extensive forests which cover the
greater portion of Norway and Sweden, from whence our markets are annually supplied with this celebrated
game. Although these countries may be considered as its great depot, it is also to be found in all the wild
and mountainous districts of Europe wherever extensive pine-woods afford it food and shelter.

In habits and disposition the Capercailzie and the Black Cock (Zeérao Tetrix), differ considerably from
the genuine Grouse; they are, in fact, more essentially arboreal, and their feet being furnished with horny
papilli enable them to rest on the smooth and slippery branches of the pine and other alpine trees. As the
breeding-season approaches, the male becomes greatly excited, and perched on some large branch, in a dense
part of the forest, invites his mate by often-repeated and loud calls, which very frequently leads to his own
destruction by apprising the sportsman of the immediate locality in which he is seated: hence in the months
of April and May the London markets are frequently stocked with fine males in their highest state of plumage,
and with a favourable wind for the lobster-boats, which are the general means of conveyance, arrive in good
order.

The male far exceeds his mate in size and in the beauty and elegance of its plumage.

The Capercailzie is decidedly polygamous in its habits, and lives separate from the females except in the
breeding-season. The female rears her young in independent seclusion: the nest is placed amidst brakes and
dense underwood ; the eggs are from eight to sixteen in number, of a yellowish white spotted with darker
yellow.

The young of both sexes during the first autumn resemble the female; but as spring approaches, the
males assume their sexual characteristics of plumage.

The food of the Capercailzie consists of alpine berries, tops of fir, snails, &c.

The male has the head, neck, whole of the upper surface, flanks and under tail-coverts dark ashy grey,
with mmumerable small irregular markings of black ; forehead and throat dusky black, the feathers of the
latter being long and pendulous ; breast fine dark glossy green; wings fine chestnut brown, with innumerable
small irregular markings of black ; secondaries slightly tipped with white; quills dull brown on their inner
webs, paler on the outer ; under surface black with spots of white, which are most numerous about the thighs
and vent ; the two outer rows of the upper tail-coverts are tipped with white, are considerably longer than
those in the middle, and, gradually lengthening, reach nearly to the end of the tail, which is rounded and
of a black colour with a few irregular spots of white on the sides ; bill yellowish white ; irides hazel ; over
the eye a bare red skin; legs covered with brown hair like feathers.

The female has the head, neck, and upper part of the back barred with reddish brown, grey and black ;
wings and lower part of the back dark brown, each feather edged and tipped with irregular markings of
reddish brown ; secondaries tipped with white ; quills as in the male but lighter ; throat pale reddish brown ;
breast rich reddish brown ; under surface pale reddish brown, each feather being barred near its extremity
with dark brown and tipped with greyish white, which colour predominates on the under tail-coverts ; tail rich
rufous brown, numerously barred with very dark brown; bill greenish horn colour ; legs pale brown.

We have figured a male and female about two thirds of the natural size.