THE GAME-BIRDS. 247 



nest, but scratches a depression in the earth for the re- 

 ception of the eggs. Eggs, 3, i y z inch ; buff, with brown 

 or purple blotches ; elliptical in form. 



CHAPTER XL THE GAME-BIRDS. 



[Our game-birds include eight species, of which perhaps 

 the most interesting to the naturalist is the red grouse, 

 which occurs nowhere else in the world; while still 

 more interesting in its history is the splendid capercailzie, 

 reintroduced from Scandinavia sixty years ago, after it 

 had become extinct for nearly a century. Several of the 

 rest were artificially introduced. The term " Game-birds " 

 is applied somewhat loosely to this order, for, legally 

 speaking, the snipe and woodcock, though they may be 

 trapped without licence, rank as "game" for the gun. 

 Seven residents; one summer visitor.] 



The Pheasant, introduced from Asia at some remote 

 date, as some say, by the Romans, now crossed with 

 more recently introduced breeds, is met with 

 throughout these islands, even to the Outer 

 Hebrides, though it would have had a poor chance of sur- 

 vival were it not for the protection extended to it during 

 half the year that it may be better shot during the 

 other half. It is on many estates practically a tame bird 

 for six months, a wild one for the other six. A remark- 

 able bird too in many of its arrangements and instincts, 

 for not only is it said to be common for three or four hens 

 to incubate the same clutch of eggs, but the male is also 

 alleged on rare occasions (not like those birds in which 

 such duties regularly devolve upon his sex) to take his 

 share of incubating the eggs and of looking after the 

 young birds. The natural food of the pheasant consists 

 of berries, grain, and worms, but it has of course learnt 



