50 Lloyd's natural history. 



white. Total length, 35 inches ; wing, 14-6 ; tail, 12-3 ; tarsus, 

 2-8. 



Adult Female. — Middle of the back rufous and buff, strongly 

 barred with black ; breast and belly buff or whitish-buff, 

 barred with black ; general colour of the plumage darker 

 than in T. iiralensis^ the white tips to the scapulars being 

 narrower. Total length, 25 inches; wing, 117; tail, 7.3; 

 tarsus, 2' I, 



Younger males resemble the adult, but are smaller, and the 

 white band across the tail is wanting. 



Nestling. — Very similar to that of Z. tetrix. 



Range. — The pine-forests of Europe and Northern and Cen- 

 iral Asia, extending in the west to Scotland, in the east as far 

 as Lake Baikal, and southwards to the Pyrenees, Alps, Carpa- 

 thians, Nortli-east Turkestan, and the Altai Mountains. 



Hal)its. — The Capercailzie is an inhabitant of the pine-forests, 

 and spends the greater part of its time among the branches, 

 feeding on the tender shoots of spruce and larch ; but it is 

 also extremely fond of various ground-fruits, in search of which 

 it may not unfrequently be found in comparatively open 

 country at a considerable distance from the fir-woods. Like 

 other Game-Birds, it also shows a great partiality for grain, 

 visiting^ the stubble-fields in fine weather. On the cjround, the 

 movements of Capercailzie are slow and dignified, and when 

 wounded, being incapable of running at any great pace, they 

 seldom move far from where they fall, usually seeking conceal- 

 ment by hiding, at which, in spite of their size, they are great 

 adepts. The weight of the old male averages from nine to 

 twelve pounds, but, notwithstanding his bulk, the flight is easy 

 and almost noiseless, though remarkably steady and rapid. It 

 is astonishing how closely one of these great birds can glide 

 past without its presence being detected, unless one happens 

 to catch sight of it. The habits are somewhat similar to those 

 of the Black Game, but the meeting-place of the males is 



