BIRDS OF THE WOODS 63 



parasite on trees, in which it finds its food and lays its 

 eggs. The tapping of the Woodpecker is a familiar 

 woodland sound. Flight strong and undulating. On 

 the ground it walks or hops ; on the tree-trunk it 

 ascends spirally and by means of a series of jerks, aided 

 by its stiff tail-feathers and tenacious claws. 



Food, Insects, and especially ants ; also nuts and 

 acorns in winter. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. In a hole in some tree, excavated by the bird 

 itself, and used yearly if not disturbed. 



Materials. None. 



Eggs. Five to seven. Pure glossy, creamy white. 



CAPERCAILLIE (Tetrao urogallus). 



Found in considerable numbers in the central counties 

 of Scotland. Almost exclusively a bird of the forest. 



Plumage. Pendant feathers of throat black. Head 

 and neck dusky ; above eyes a bare red skin-patch ; 

 upper parts slaty grey. Wing-coverts, rump, and flanks 

 chestnut, finely lined and vermiculated with black and 

 ash. Breast lustrous green ; under parts and tail 

 blackish, with some white spots. Bill brownish white. 

 Legs covered with brown hair-like feathers. Length 

 35 in. Female : much smaller, and generally brown, 

 mottled with black, white, and tawny red ; neck and 

 breast brownish red ; tail dark red, barred with black, 

 and tipped with white. Young like female. Young in 

 down generally buff, tinged with rufous and marked 

 with dark brown. 



Language. Several utterances which are almost im- 

 possible to syllabise ; they have been given as follows : 



(1) " pellep " or " peller," repeated two or three times ; 



(2) " klickop " ; (3) " hede." 



Habits. Polygamous, and at mating-time very pug- 

 nacious, fighting most desperately for the supremacy 



