COCK OF THE PLAINS.— rr/ioo tirofiliasitmvB. 



statue. This is absolutely uecessaiy ; for dining liis play, excepting during the gulp, 

 &c., the Capercaillie is exceedingly watchful, and easily takes tlic alarm. Jf all remain 

 cpiiet, however, the bird usually goes on again immediately with his first strain, and when 

 he once more comes to the final note, the sportsman advances as before. 



To become a proficient at this sjDort requires a good deal of practice. In the first 

 place, a person must know how to take advantage of the ground when advancing upon 

 the Capercaillie ; for if in full daylight, this is hardly practicable in exposed situations ; 

 and in the next, that he may not move forward excepting upon the note which is so fatal 

 to that Ijird. This is likely enough to hajjpen if it be an old cock that has been previously 

 exposed to shots, for he often runs on with Feller, peUer, jieNrr, until one supposes that 

 he is just coming to the gulp, when he suddenly makes a stop. If, therefore, a person 

 were then incautiously to advance, he woidd, in all probability, instantly take to flight." 



Tlie nest of the Capercaillie is made upon the ground, and contains eight to ten eggs ; 

 when hatched, the young are fed upou insects, more especially ants and their pupa?, 

 nie adult birds feed mostly on vegetable substances, sucli as juniper, cranberry, and 

 billjerries, and the leaves and buds of several trees. 



The colour of the adult male l)ird is (•heslnut-brown covered with a number of black 

 lines irri'gularly dispersed, tlie breast is Ijlack wilh a gloss of green, and (he abdomen is 

 simjily ])li\ck, as are the lengthciu-d feathers of the throat and the tail. 'J'lie female is 

 easily known liy the bars of red and black which traverse the liead and neck, and the 

 reddish yellow barred witli black of the under surface. In size, the Capercaillie is nearly 

 equal to a turkey. 



