76 Allen's naturalist's library. 



us, but generally about half way up, and amongst the most 

 leafy of the branches 



"The favourite haunts of the Hazel-Hen are hilly and 

 wooded districts. In the open country it is never found, but 

 somewhat varies its ground according to the season of the year. 

 During summer and autumn one often observes these birds in 

 young woods consisting chiefly of deciduous trees ; but when 

 the leaves begin to fall, they retire to the great pine-forests, for 

 the reason, as some suppose, that they may be less exposed to 

 the attacks of birds of prey 



" The pairing-season usually commences at the end of March 

 or beginning of April, though the time is somewhat dependent 

 on the state of the weather. The sexes attract each other by a 

 peculiar and almost melancholy cry ; that of the male consisting 

 of a long-drawn whistle, followed by a chirp : ti hth tititi-ti ; 

 whilst that of the female is more simple, being often only a 

 single sustained ////, vibrating or quivering towards its termi- 

 nation 



"The chicks are hatched about midsummer, and in the 

 course of a very few days, and when they are only feathered on 

 the wings and tail, begin to fly." 



After describing the various methods employed in Scan- 

 dinavia for shooting these birds he says : — " The usual way, 

 however, of shooting the Hazel-Hen is without any dog, and 

 solely with the aid of the so-called Hjerp-pipa, or pipe. This 

 implement, which is much less in size that one's finger, and 

 constructed of wood or metal, or it may be the wing-bone of 

 a Black-cock, emits a soft whistling sound, that can be varied 

 according to the call-note of the bird. Such a pipe is readily 

 manufactured. Often, indeed, when we have accidently met 

 with a Hazel-Hen, has my man with his knife alone made one 

 out, of a sapling of some pithy tree, and that in the course of 

 a very few minutes 



"The number of Hazel-Hens annually taken in Scandinavia 

 is something enormous. Brunius, in his " Hand Lexicon," pub- 



