74 CAPE-SHEEP— CARACARA 



alone afford it food in winter. Its bones have been found in the 

 kitchen-middens of Denmark, proving that country to have once 

 been clothed with woods of that kind. More lately its remains 

 have been recognized from the caves of Aquitaine. Its eastern or 

 southern limits in Asia cannot be precisely given, but it certainly 

 inhabits the forests of a great part of Siberia. On the Stannovoi 

 Mountains, however, it is replaced by a distinct though nearly 

 allied species, the T. iirogolloides of Dr. von Middendorff ^ Avhich is 

 smaller with a slenderer bill but longer tail. 



The Cock-of-the-wood is remarkable for his large size and 

 glossy-black jDlumage. He is polygamous, and in spring mounts to 

 the topmost bough of a tall tree, whence he challenges all comers 

 by extraordinary sounds and gestures ; while the hens, Avhich are 

 much smaller and mottled in colour, timidly abide below the result 

 of the frequent duels, patiently submitting themselves to the victor. 

 While this is going on it is the practice in many countries, though 

 generally in defiance of the law, for the so-called sportsman stealthily 

 to draw nigh, and with Avell-aimed rifle to murder the principal 

 performer in the scene. The hen makes an artless nest on the 

 ground, and lays therein from seven to nine or even more eggs. 

 The young are able to fly soon after they are hatched, and towards 

 the end of summer and l^eginning of autumn, from feeding on the 

 fi'uit and leaves of the bilberries and other similar plants, which 

 form the undercovert of the foi'ests, get into excellent condition 

 and become good eating. "With the first heavy falls of snow they 

 betake themselves to the trees, and then, feeding on the pine-leaves, 

 their flesh speedily acquires so strong a flavour of turpentine as to 

 be distasteful to most palates. The usual method of pursuing this 

 species on the Continent is by encouraging a trained dog to range 

 the forest and spring the birds, which then perch on the trees ; 

 while he is baying at the foot their attention is so much attracted 

 by him that they permit the near approach of his master, who thus 

 obtains a more or less easy shot. A considerable number, however, 

 are also snared. Hybrids are very frequently produced between 

 the Capercally and the Black Grouse, T. tetrix, and the oftspring 

 has been described by some authors under the name of T. niediii.% as 

 though a distinct species. 



CAPE -SHEEP, a name absurdly given by sailors to the 

 Albatros (Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 363). 



CARACARA, a South-American bird, so called by the natives 

 of Brazil, first described and figured b}'' Marcgrave {Hist. Nat. 

 Brazil, p. 211). In 1782 it became the Falco tliarns of Molina 

 {Sagg. Star. N'at. Chili, ix 264), and is the Polyhorus thanis of 



^ Not to be confounded with the bird so named previously by Nilsson, which 

 is an hvbrid. 



