CAPERCAILLIE. 133 



CAPERCAILLIE. 



WOOD GROUSE. 

 PLATE CXXXVIII. 



Tetrao urogallus, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Urogallus major, BRISSON. 



ABOUT the beginning of May nidification com- 

 mences, 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. One has been known at a good height from 

 the ground, in a pine tree, in an old nest of a Falcon. 



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 ap- 

 proaches, 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. 



