BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 31 



THE CAPERCAILZIE 



AT one time this handsome member of the Grouse 

 family was met with abundantly all over Scot- 

 land. Owing, however, to the destruction of the large 

 pine forests and the growth of civilisation, it had 

 become completely extinct by the beginning of last 

 century. In 1837, or thereabouts, it was re-intro- 

 duced, and has increased so rapidly that now 

 it is met with nesting throughout Scotland, but 

 has not as yet, I think, found footing in the sister 

 country. 



Like its near relative the Black Grouse, the 

 cock bird is vastly different to the hen, being of 

 much greater size, and also of quite a different 

 colour. While the hen bird is clad in very subdued 

 fashion in much the same colours as the hen 

 Pheasant, the cock is resplendent in a bluish-black 

 plumage, and his red comb is very pronounced. 



He takes unto him several wives during the 

 nesting season, and, like the Blackcock, leaves 

 them to hatch off their broods without showing 

 much further interest in them. 



The Capercailzie's usual nesting month is May, 

 but in the higher forests the eggs are sometimes 

 not laid till June. The favourite nesting site is at 

 the foot of an old pine tree, and the hollow 

 destined to receive the eggs is scraped between two 

 of the roots of the tree. Very often a pine 

 growing at a slant is chosen, probably because the 

 overhanging trunk protects the sitting hen from 

 the rain. The eggs are usually laid on the pine 

 needles which cover the ground in the forests, 

 and no attempt at a nest is made. When the hen 



