398 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 





Phata bj If. F. figgta] ILitghtm Buxxard 



PTARMIGAN 



In winter these birds don a snow-white livery 



The RED GROUSE is the only game-bird which 

 is not found outside the British Islands. It is the 

 bird which perhaps heads the list in the estimation 

 of British sportsmen, who travel north in hundreds 

 every year for the pleasure of the sport it affords. 

 It is furthermore remarkable for the wonderful variety 

 of the seasonal plumages. Both sexes change their 

 dress twice during the year the female in spring and 

 summer, and the male in autumn and winter. Its 

 Continental relative, the RYPER, has no less than 

 three changes spring, summer, and winter. For the 

 last season a white dress is adopted, to correspond with 

 its snowy surroundings. The winters in the British 

 Islands 

 are neither 

 long 

 enough 

 nor severe 

 enough 

 to render 

 such 

 change 



necessary 



with the red grouse, which is sufficiently protected by 

 its ordinary dress. 



The largest and perhaps the most interesting of 

 all the European game-birds are the CAPERCALLIES, 



^ _______ or CAPER- 



CAILZIES. 

 The 

 British 

 species 

 is also 

 known as 

 the COCK- 

 O F-T II E- 

 WOOD. He 

 is a hand- 



Fnaa by If. F. Plgt"t 



CAPERCALLIE 



This -.uas once a common British bird. The present breed 



was introduced some years ago, the native birds 



having been exterminated 



Flute Ij If. F. Plgfitt} [Lefflncn Baxx.ard 



COMMON PARTRIDGE 



This is the commoner and more esteemed of the two species 

 of British partridges 



some black bird, nearly as big as a turkey, weighing 

 from 9 to 17 Ibs. 



In the spring the capercallie, like the blackcock, 

 indulges in a remarkable " love-song," or " play," 

 as it is called. With outstretched neck, tail expanded 

 like a fan, drooping wings, and ruffled feathers, he 

 commences his call, " pellcr, peller, peller," increasing 

 in rapidity every moment, till he works himself up 

 into a perfect frenzy. At this time he is perfectly 

 unconscious of all around him, and poachers, knowing 

 this, sometimes take advantage to creep up and 

 shoot him. On hearing the cock, the hens assemble 

 from all parts of the forest. The male then descends 

 from the tree to the ground, when " he and his 



