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and occasionally it may destroy young birds. The colour above 

 is ashy-brown, the under parts dull white, the breast clouded with 

 a shade of brown, the wing and tail feathers dark brown crossed with 

 bars of darker brown. The Bu/zard is deserving of careful protec- 

 tion, but unfortunately its numbers have been very greatly reduced 

 through lack of consideration on the part of game preservers. 

 Originally this bird built its nest in trees, often a fir tree, but of 

 late years it has retreated, during the breeding season at least, to 

 more inaccessible spots where it nests in cliffs. The foundation of 

 the nest is constructed of rough sticks, the upper portion of twigs, 

 and a peculiar habit of the species is to line its nest with fresh green 

 leaves. The eggs are usually three in number, though occasion- 

 ally four may be found, and are often very handsome. They 

 vary from a dull white without markings, to those where the 

 ground colour is almost obscured by rich blotches and spots of 

 reddish brown. 



Capercaillie The Capercaillie is much the largest of the British 

 game birds, the male attaining to the length of 35 inches, the female 

 being some 10 inches shorter. The former is a very handsome bird, 

 dark slate grey in colour, with each feather finely vermiculated with 

 white. It is possessed of an extremely powerful bill, curved in shape, 

 and has a habit of distending the feathers of the throat, the combina- 

 tion giving to the bird a somewhat fierce look, which is however alto- 

 gether belied by its nature and habits, which much resemble those 

 of the black grouse. The colour of the female is chestnut, barred 

 with black, the tips of the feathers being touched with white. This 

 species was at ne time indigenous to Great Britain, but became 

 extinct. It was, however, re-introduced to Scotland some 50 years 

 ago, and has within late years greatly increasd in numbers, and 

 in its range ; occurring now frequently in counties much farther south 

 than that into which it was re -introduced. The food of the Caper- 

 caillie consists very largely of the needles of the Scots fir, a diet 

 which imparts to its flesh a strongly resinous flavour. In dissect- 

 ing a mature male, it is not uncommon to find its crop distended 

 with an enormous mass of these needles, so hard and dry as to cause 

 admiration of the extraordinary digestive power which can reduce 

 and assimilate such unlikely material. This bird also feeds on 

 berries and acorns, and the young shoots and buds ef a variety of 

 trees. The Capercaillie is polygamous, and in the breeding season 

 the males are said to indulge in severe fighting, at which time they 

 may be easily approached. The nest of the Capercaillie consists of 

 a mere scraping in the ground in which are laid from five to eight 

 eggs, or in the case of older females from eight to twelve, though as 

 many as sixteen eggs have been found in the lat case probably the 

 product of two hens. They resemble the eggs of the black grouse, 

 being of a dull cream ground colour, spotted with reddish brown, 

 and are rather over 2 inches in length. 



Chaffinch This finch is one of the most brilliantly coloured 

 of our British birds, and the male in spring, when the varied 

 colours of his plumage are at their brightest, with his blue cap, 

 and bright contrast of black, white, and saffron on wings and 

 breast, presents a handsome appearance, as he pours out his short 

 but melodious song, or utters his characteristic cry of "pink- 

 pink." The Chaffinch is a resident with us throughout the year, 

 is widely distributed, and in many districts is abundant. The habit 

 of this species, from which it derives its scientific name of " Bachelor- 

 Finch," is that shown in the winter months, when the males and 



