192 Scaiii/iiKn'idii (iai)ic Birds. 



Till-: ll.\zi:i. (jROusK. 



A mucli rarer and more valual)k' captive llian eitlier capercailzie, Ijlack- 

 cock, or greyhen is the hazel grouse. 'J"his pretty little game hircl si)eiids 

 most of its time in the trees, and is therefore extremely d'iHicult to catch even 

 in Finland, where it is very plentiful. On one occasion I was asked by an 

 American friend if 1 could procure him a few. Although assured by many 

 game experts in tliffereul parts of Scandinavia that it was impossible, I 

 succeeded, after .1 great deal of trouble, in getting nine in the course of two 

 seasons, l)Ul the cost was very heavy. 



The original cause which creates a demand for live game birds in 

 Sweden or Norway is generally some large acclimatisation experiment which 

 is being arranged for in Copenhagen. That town is a conven'eni centre, and 

 from thence their departure is wired to the countries beyond the sea for which 

 they are intended. During the years hnmediately before the war, several 

 hundreds of Scandinavian game birds were thus dispatched from the Danish 

 capital to the United States, Canada, Newfoundland, British Columbia, and 

 Tasmania, and, in view of the length of the different journeys, the mortalit}' 

 was wonderfully small. 



In small lots from various jiarts of the country the birds reach the 

 " collector " in South Sweden, who has a properly arranged enclosure ready 

 for their reception. For various reasons he is averse to retaining them 

 longer than is necessary, and as soon as ajiproximately the required number 

 has been obtained he communicates with the principal in Copenhagen. The 

 latter then arranges for deck space and caretaking on board a Transatlantic 

 or other steamer — not always an easy matter — and on the morning of the 

 day on which the vessel is advertised to sail the birds arrive by the first boat 

 from Malmo. They are accomiianied by a supply of food sufficient for the 

 length of the entire voyage on which they are being sent, and they are 

 packed in cases containing at most three individuals. These cases are about 

 15 inches high, inside measurement; the roof is thickly padded with canvas 

 and leather to prevent the occupants from injuring their heads; the front is 

 composed of upright lengths of wood, the spaces between which give easy 

 access to a trough which runs along outside and is divided into three sections 

 containing corn and wild berries mixed, water, and sand, while, in order to 

 facilitate cleaning, each case has a false or removable floor like a canary cage. 

 The old cock capercailzie being ver)^ cantankerous and pugnacious, each of 

 them has a case to itself, and it is inadvisable to put a hand within their reach, 

 as with their powerful bill they can — and frequently do — inflict a very painful 

 wound. 



Need for Great Cake. 



In order to reduce the mortality on long journeys as much as possible^ 

 too great care cannot be taken with the birds. On board ship they should 

 have a caretaker from among the crew, and they should be so placed as not to 

 be disturbed and casually fed by strangers : while in rough weather the cases 

 must be covered over with tarpaulin, as sea water is very injurious. On the 



