THE CAPERCAILLIE 151 



plantations, probably because there is an absence of under- 

 growth which would impede the birds in their movements. 

 I have never seen them in a birch wood. 



The nest of the Capercaillie is placed on the ground at 

 the foot of a tree, often a tree which has grown in a curve, 

 and which thus protects the sitting hen from the wet, 

 being preferred. The eggs usually number from six to 

 nine, but as many as twelve have been found. During 

 the period of laying the hen bird covers them roughly 

 with pine needles on her departure from the nest. In 

 colour they are of a pale brownish buff ground colour, 

 spotted lightly with reddish brown. They resemble 

 those of the Grey-hen, but are more handsome in appear- 

 ance and of larger size. An average measurement is 

 2"2 by 1*6 inches. Sometimes two hens share the same 

 nest. The Capercaillie is a somewhat late nester, and the 

 majority are still brooding on eggs during the first weeks 

 in June. The period of incubation is just over four weeks. 

 At times a hen Capercaillie will brood so closely that one 

 can approach to within a few feet without causing her 

 to leave the nest. She cannot, however, be said to be 

 a good mother, and seems to be contented if only a few 

 of her young follow her from the nest. It is probable, 

 however, that individual birds vary greatly in their affec- 

 tion for their young, for I knew of one instance when, on 

 a brood of young Capers being disturbed, the mother bird 

 flew up and endeavoured to beat off the human intruder. 



When disturbed on her nest, the departure of the hen 

 Capercaillie is a precipitate one, and she often carries with 

 her one or more of the eggs. These remain where they 

 have fallen, perhaps only an inch outside the nest, for the 

 bird, as far as my experience goes, makes no attempt 

 to replace them. Stoats remove the eggs from the nest, 

 and I have more than once seen a deserted nest with the 

 sucked eggs l}dng around. On one occasion some mys- 



