252 BIRDS. 



in Scotland.' In Ireland, where it apparently became 

 extinct about the same time as in Scotland, it has not 

 been reintroduced ; in England it may never have occurred, 

 or, if it did, it became extinct at some early period of which 

 there remains no record. The legs of the capercailzie 

 are feathered, but the foot, unlike those of the red grouse 

 and ptarmigan, is bare. The tail is long and rounded, 

 therein differing from the striking lyre-like extremity of 

 the next species. The male, the larger of the two, is a 

 fighting bird; and Sir Henry Pottinger and others who 

 have made a study of it give most interesting accounts of 

 his spring "spel," wherein he performs all manner of 

 antics to engage the attention of the hens. He is a con- 

 firmed polygamist, and fights, or makes a great pretence of 

 doing so, for his wives. These birds feed largely on berries 

 and fir-shoots, the latter imparting to their flesh a flavour 

 of turpentine, and the Scandinavian peasantry call it by a 

 name that has reference to this peculiarity. The eggs are 

 laid in a depression scraped in the earth. Eggs, 7 to 10, 

 2^ inches ; brownish or pale orange, with brown blotches. 



The Black Grouse (the male being known as the " Black 

 Cock," the female as the " Grey Hen ") is a smaller bird 

 Black than the last, which it nevertheless somewhat 

 Grouse. rese mbles in habits. The adult male is at 

 once distinguished by the lyre-shaped feathers in the tail, 

 the underpart of which is white. There is also a conspic- 

 uous bar on the wing. The distribution of this bird is 

 somewhat local and subject to unaccountable changes. It 

 seems pretty generally at home throughout Scotland, includ- 

 ing the Inner Hebrides, though said to be on the decrease 

 in the Loch Lomond district ; in Ireland, it appears to be 

 wanting ; in England, it occurs in many suitable districts, 1 

 wherever there is secluded forest, but generally in small 

 numbers. Thus, I have learnt to look on those said to 



1 Sir Herbert Maxwell informs me that the bird has almost, if not 

 quite, disappeared from Surrey. 



