CAPERCAILLIE. 349 



coverts, and tail-feathers, dark brown, barred and freckled 

 with yellow brown ; the neck in front and the chest are of 

 a fine yellowish chestnut ; those of the breast margined 

 with black, and with an extreme edge of greyish white ; 

 the feathers of the flanks, vent, and under tail-coverts 

 with broader edges of white ; legs greyish brown ; toes 

 and claws pale brown. 



The whole length of the female described was twenty-six 

 inches. From the carpal joint to the end of the wing, 

 thirteen inches. 



The young birds of both sexes in their first plumage 

 resemble the old female, the young males afterwards ob- 

 taining by slow degrees the colours which distinguish that 

 sex. 



A young male preserved in the Museum of the Zoological 

 Society, about twenty-two inches in length, and rather 

 larger in bulk than a cock Pheasant, has nearly completed 

 his change ; the chestnut-coloured feathers on the chest 

 have assumed part of the green colour peculiar to the males, 

 but still retain a portion of the chestnut, and is evidently 

 a change of colour without losing the feather, the black 

 crescent changing to green. 



A simple and ingenious trap is sometimes used by the 

 peasants in Norway for taking the Capercaillie ; and I am 

 indebted to Mr. Grant for a description of it, and also for 

 the drawing from which the vignette at the end was derived. 

 Where the trees grow thickly on either side of a foot-path, 

 two long pieces of wood are placed across it ; one end of 

 these rests on the ground, the other being raised a foot and 

 a half, or somewhat more, from the surface, and supported 

 by a piece communicating with a triangular twig, placed 

 in the centre of the path, and so contrived that on being 

 slightly touched the whole fabric falls : a few stones are 



