DESCRiniOX OF CAPERCAILZIE. Uo 



ami l)lack, and the tips of the feathers white ; scapuhirs 

 bhiek, the edges of the feathers mottled with black and 

 pale reddish-brown ; the scapulars tipped with white, 

 the inner Aveb of the quills dusky, the exterior mottled 

 with dusky and pale brown ; the tail is of a deep rust 

 colour, barred with black, tipped with white, and con- 

 sists of sixteen feathers, and when the bird spreads out 

 its tail the white forms a circle round it. This bird, 

 when feeding on the cones of the fir-tree, will sometimes 

 strip one fir of all cones, and leave the adjacent fir 

 untouched, which evidently proves that it is an epicure 

 in the choice of this kind of food. 



The males and females are not found together except 

 from the beginning of February, the time of pairing, 

 when the male morning and evening places himself on 

 an eminence, or perches on the branch of a tree, when, 

 with tail spread, the wings trailing almost to his feet, 

 the scarlet patch on each side of the head assuming a 

 deeper dye, his neck protruded, and the head feathers 

 ruffled, he makes a noise not unlike the whetting of a 

 scythe, which he repeats every now and then so loud as 

 to be heard at a considerable distance. This call the 

 females attend, and he continues it to the end of 

 March. At this time he is so unguarded about liis 

 safety that he is easily approached within shot, and 

 many of them are then killed by the German Jiigers. 

 It has been said that both males and females are so 

 negligent of their safety during this amorous season, 

 that peasants have been kno^vu to take them in 

 their hands. This I can hardly credit. When a cock 

 has been shot, the female has been heard to issue 

 the most plaintive notes for its loss. The female lays 

 from eight to sixteen eggs, eight at first, and more as 



