THE "GAME-BIRDS" 67 



in Europe and Northern Asia, migrating in vast hosts, upon which 

 enormous raids are made to supply our tables in the spring months 

 of the year. '' The numbers," says Dr. Sharpe, '* which appear in 

 the winter quarters of the species, in Northern Africa, in Egypt, and 

 above all in North-western India, are sometimes incredible." 



Quails and Partridges are met with only in the Old World. 



With the Grouse tribe our account of the Game-birds comes to 

 an end. 



Of the many species which are known, the Capercailzie, or 

 Cock of the Woods (Plate XII. fig. i, a, b), is the largest ; it is, indeed, 

 one of the largest of the Game-birds. In Great Britain it is confined 

 to Scotland, where it has been re-introduced. At one time it occurred 

 in suitable localities, throughout the British Islands. Like the 

 Black-cock, to be described presently, the Capercailzie has several 

 wives, and the most desperate fights take place in the spring, among 

 the males, for the possession of the coveted females. The male 

 Capercailzie has a strange habit of resorting to some particular spot 

 in the forest to sing his love-song, and during this time he becomes 

 so absorbed as to be unconscious of the approach of enemies. At 

 such times unscrupulous " sportsmen," in some countries, contrive 

 to get near enough to shoot him. The female is smaller than her 

 mate, and quite dull-coloured. 



The Black Grouse (Plate XII. fig. 3) is a particularly handsome 

 bird, remarkable for the curious shape of the tail. Though found 

 in small numbers in various parts of England, the real home of this 

 bird, in Great Britain, is in Scotland. During the spring these birds 

 go through very extraordinary performances — the males alone. 

 And these are enacted, apparently, for the delight of the females, 

 which assemble in the neighbourhood to witness the display. As 

 with the Capercailzie, the females are of a rich brown colour, barred 

 with black. 



The Ptarmigan (Plate XII. fig. 6) is a very near relative of the 

 Red Grouse, and is now confined, so far as Great Britain is concerned, 

 to the Highlands of Scotland, though time was when it was also to 

 be met with in England — at least, tradition says so. This bird is 

 peculiar in that in winter the richly coloured plumage worn during 

 the summer and autumn is exchanged for a dress of pure white, 



