^ss 



British Birds. 



well known that no detailed description is necessary : no other British Game-bird 

 can be mistaken for it. The Black Grouse is found throughout the pine-woods and 

 birch-woods, especially in the mountains, of Europe and iXorthern and Central Asia, 

 and It inhabits the north of England and Scotland in the localities suited to its habits, 

 being also found in the wilder districts of the west and south-west of England and 

 Wales. It is a tree-frequenting species rather than a ground bird like the Red 

 Grouse and Ptarmigan, and further differs from those birds in being polygamous. 

 When the breeding-season comes round the males often indulge in furious combats, 

 and go through all sorts of dancing manoeuvres, but they disappear as soon as the 

 females have begun to sit. The nest is a hollow in the ground, with scarcely any 

 lining, and the eggs are from si.\ to ten in number, of a buff colour, richly spotted 

 with brown : they are about two inches in length. 



The Capercailie. 



THE 



C.\PEKCAILIE. 

 (Tctrao iirogalhis.) 



This, the finest of our British Game-birds, is only found in 

 certain districts of Scotland, where it has been re-introduced after 

 havmg been exterminated. It is also an inhabitant of the pine- 

 forests of Scandinavia and the rest of Europe as far east as 

 Central Asia and the Baikal region. 



Like the Black Grouse, the Capercaihe is polygamous, and drives away all the 

 younger males from its district as the nesting-season approaches, fighting furiously 

 with any other old male bird that trespasses on its particular domain. It is olten 



