126 RESORTS AND FOOT*. 



difference in plumage, even during the summer, the fact 

 of the Dal-Ripa heing only found in districts more or 

 less wooded, of its frequently perching on trees and 

 bushes — which the common grouse is seldom known to 

 do * — and other peculiarities too tedious to mention, 

 clearly mark it as a species distinct from the Tetrao 

 Scoticus, for which, nevertheless, it has been mistaken by 

 more than one English traveller. 



The Scotch Grouse, it should be remarked, is not 

 found in Scandinavia ; but strenuous efforts, which it is to 

 be hoped Avill prove successful, are now being made by 

 Mr. Oscar Dickson, of Gotlienburg, to introduce that bird 

 into Sweden. 



Swedish naturalists tell us the Dal-Ripa is seldom 

 found in large woods, but such is not exactly the fact ; for 

 though doubtless much more plentiful in comparatively 

 open country, such as the higher slopes of the fjilUs, 

 where there is little besides brushwood, yet to my personal 

 knowledge these birds are pretty common both summer 

 and winter in the great northern forest. 



According to M. Barth, the Dal-E,ipa thrives best in 

 localities where woods of large birch trees are interspersed 



'^Kdviiuf Kdvdu!" The Finnish peasants imagine they hear in this cry 

 tlie words "Kopek, Kopek," for which reason they jestingly call the Ripa 

 by the name of the coin current in Russia. Those of Gullbrandsdal, in 

 Norway, suppose that the Rijia cries " Ta Karii," i. e., catch the fellow ; 

 and in Hallingdal, "A'rt bar d!i ? Kd bar dti'l" or, what do you carry * 



* "The instance to which you allude of Grouse 'treeing,' " writes an 

 acquaintance who knows this bird well, " occurred in Ayrshire some 

 four or five years ago. I was driving with a friend, ai^d .saw several 

 birds feeding in the corner of a small enclosure by the edge of the moor, 

 and other birds, all red gi'ouse, were in a small ash tree close by. I waited 

 until these flew down and fed with the other birds, on the corn stubble of 

 the enclosure. There was no possibility of a mistake, as 1 could not be 

 fifty vards distant, and 1 remarked to my friend tlii\t T lia<l n(>vcr )ief<ire 

 teen or lieard of Knl (iiYnise treeintj. 



