CAPERCAILLIE 131 



mentioned by Pennant {ut supra) ; Field, March 15, 

 1863; Zool, 1878, p. 349; and Ann. Scot. Nat. 

 Hist, 1897, p. 45; and between Capercaillie and 

 Pheasant, Scot. Nat., 1891, p. 38. Examples of these 

 are figured by Mr. Millais in his '' Game-birds." 



As to the food of this bird, the young when 

 following the hen, which scrapes for them like other 

 gallinaceous birds, feed largely on worms, insects, and 

 their larvae, and ants' eggs; later they live much 

 on blaeberries, and visit the oat-fields. The crop 

 of one shot in Perthshire, during the first week of 

 November, contained a handful of oak-leaves and 

 168 acorns; others contained shoots of the Scotch 

 fir, heather tops, and oats. A young cock Caper- 

 caillie in his first year will weigh from 4 lbs. (the 

 weight of an old Blackcock) to 6 lbs. or 7 lbs. ; when 

 three years old and upwards, from 10 lbs to 12 lbs. 



As to the position of the Capercaillie under 

 English game laws, see my remarks Field, Nov. 25, 

 1882, and J. G. Millais, op. cit. 1894, p. 27. 



BLACK GROUSE. Tetrao tetrix, Linnaeus. PL 18, figs. 4, 

 5, 5a. Length, $ 23 in. ; 18 in. to fork of tail ; $ 17 

 in. ; wing, cJ 10-5 in., $ 9 in. ; tarsus, c? 2 in., ? 1"6 in. 



Resident in the greater part of Scotland and in 

 many parts of England, where larch and birch woods, 

 wide tracts of heath, and moist, rushy ground afibrd 

 sufficient shelter and natural food. 



Northuviherland. — At Alnwick, Mouncer Moors, Kiel- 

 der, Morpeth, Riddlehamhope Moor, near Blanchland, and 

 within six miles of Newcastle. 



