THE CAPERCAILLIE 155 



wing coverts white. Bill yellow. Feet dark grey. 

 Wattle scarlet. Length, 35 inches; wing, l-t-G inches; 

 tail, 12-3 inches ; tarsus, 2*8 inches. 



Female. — Head, neck, and upper parts, wing coverts 

 and secondaries black, barred with reddish-brown and 

 tipped with white except on the back. Primaries dark 

 brown. Throat, fore-neck, and under parts rufous buff. 

 Tail brown, barred with black and tipped with white. 

 Axillaries and under wing coverts white marked with 

 brown and "black. Bill brownish. Feet grey brown. 

 Total length about 25 inches ; wing, 11-7 inches ; tail, 7-3 

 inches ; tarsus, 2*1 inches. 



Barren females not infrequently assume male plumage. 

 The young when hatched have the top of the head buff, 

 mottled with black, and with a dark V-shaped mark on 

 the forehead. A black band is found behind the eyes, 

 and extends to the sides of the neck. Nape, wing coverts, 

 and rump fawn colour. Back mottled with grey-brown. 

 Throat light yellow. 



