THE GROUSE. 



Cock of the. Wood 



Under the family title of Grouse, most naturalists include not only the true hird of that name, but the 

 Partridges, Quails, etc. With regard to the true Grouse, it is of the moor-land and heath, the barren rock 

 and the dense pine forest, that they are respectively the tenants. The Capercaillie, or Cock of the Wood, 

 is common in most parts of northern Europe, and was once to be found in Scotland and Ireland. The 

 male is a large bird, almost equalling a Turkey in size, but the female is considerably smaller. In the early 

 spring, before the snow has left the ground, this singular bird commences his celebrated "play." This 

 play is confined to the males, and intended to give notice of their presence to the females who are in the 

 neighborhood. During the play, the neck of the Capercaillie is stretched out, his tail is raised and spread 



like a fan, his wings droop, his feathers are 



ruffled up, and in short he much resembles 



in appearance an angry Turkey-cock. He 



begins his play with a call something re- 

 sembling peller, peller, pcller ; these sounds 



he repeats at some little intervals, but as he 



proceeds they increase in rapidity, until at 



last, and after perhaps the lapse of a minute 



or so, he makes a sort of a gulph in his 



throat, and finishes with sucking in, as it 



were, his breath. The nest is made on the 



ground, and contains from six to twelve eggs. 



Cook of the Woods. Ruffed Grouse 



