121 



CAPEECAILLIE. 



WOOD GROUSE. 



CEILIOQ COED, OP THE ANCIENT BRITISH. 

 PLATE CXXXVIII. 



Tetrao urogallus, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Urogallus major, BEISSON. 



ABOUT the beginning of May nidification commences, and the nest, 

 composed of grasses and leaves, is made upon the ground, in long 

 grass or heath, under the shelter of a tree, or bramble or other bush. 



The eggs are from half-a-dozen to a dozen in number, of a pale reddish 

 yellow brown, spotted all over with two shades of orange brown. 

 Incubation is said to last for a month, the hen alone sitting, the males 

 keeping in the neighbourhood. If danger approaches, she runs off a 

 little way, but returns again as soon as she can with safety. The 

 young leave the nest soon after they are hatched, and keep with the 

 mother bird till towards the approach of winter; the cocks leaving her 

 before the hens. 



One variety is of a dull yellowish ground colour, spotted irregularly 

 over with larger and smaller streaks and spots of dark reddish brown. 



Another is of a dull yellowish ground colour, spotted all over with 

 small spots of a darker colour, and some large blots of a dark brown 

 throughout. 



