Scientific Intelligence, — Zoology. 193 



three small islands, called Praslin, Curieuse and Ronde, within 

 half a mile ol' each other, mountainous and rocky, and the soil 

 poor. The trunk of this splendid palm rises straight to the 

 height of GO or even 90 feet, and is crowned at top with a tuft 

 of from twelve to twenty magnificent leaves, each leaf nearly 

 20 feet long, and 10 feet wide. The male and female flowers 

 are produced on different trees. The structure of these and of 

 the nuts have lately been fully described and illustrated by our 

 distinguished countryman, Dr Hooker, in the Botanical Magazine. 

 Through the zeal and attention of Mr Telfair of the Mauritius, 

 and Mr Harrison of the Seychelles, germinating nuts of the dou- 

 ble cocoa are shortly expected in this country ; and this palm 

 will, we hope, ere long be seen flourishing in the stoves of our 

 Botanic Gardens. 



ZOOLOGY 



12. The Cock of the Woods (Tetrao urogallus). — The caper- 

 cailzie, or cock of the woods, existed formerly both in Ireland and 

 Scotland ; and, according to Shaw, one was killed in the latter 

 country, about fifty years ago, at Loch Lomond. It is much to be 

 regretted, that so magnificent a bird should have been lost ; and it 

 would be well worth any attempt to recover the breed. In the lat- 

 ter country there would be little doubt of its succeeding, if it could 

 but be procured in sufficient numbers to make the attempt. 

 The cock of the woods is by no means a difficult bird to rear, 

 even in a state of captivity. There are several instances of its be- 

 ing kept alive in Sweden ; and but very recently Captain Brooke 

 was informed of two, where the female was sitting on several 

 eggs, the result of which he was not acquainted with. All that 

 it requires in its natural state, is a considerable tract of wild 

 country, well wooded with the fir^ which may be considered ne- 

 cessary to the bird, as on its shoots it principally subsists during 

 winter. If there be also a wide extent of mountains and high 

 lands, it will be the more favourable ; and should the cranberry, 

 the whortle or blaeberry, and the other wild fruits which these 

 situations produce, be found iri abundance, the trial would, in 

 all probability, be attended with success. In every part of Swe- 

 den they are found in abundance, as also in the southern parts 

 of Norway. The soil, generally speaking, in both countries, is 



APRIL JUNE 1827. N 



