PHASIANID^E; GROUSE, CAPERCAILZIE, PTARMIGAN. 481 



varying in size from that of a Turkey to that of a common 

 Pigeon. They live upon various kinds of vegetable substances ; 

 such as the soft shoots and leaves of trees and shrubs, grasses, 

 berries, and seeds. Although they generally gather their food 

 on the ground, some of them betake themselves to trees for that 

 purpose, and many occasionally perch. In their movements 

 they closely resemble the Partridges ; but they frequent different 

 localities, preferring low, damp, grassy or ferny places, in the 

 neighbourhood of woods or thickets ; and are more shy and 

 wary in their habits. Besides the Black Grouse, another species, 

 known as the Cock of the Woods^ or Capercailzie, was formerly 

 abundant in Scotland. Having been extirpated for the last half 

 century by the indiscriminate zeal of sportsmen, and by the 

 destruction of the forests it inhabited, many attempts have been 

 made to re-naturalize it, by introducing individuals from Norway; 

 in the mountainous parts of which country it is still plentiful. 

 This species is of considerable size, being not much inferior to the 

 Turkey in bulk, and more robust in proportion. Its food 

 consists of the leaves and buds of the fir tribe, together with 

 juniper-berries, cranberries, &c. ; the young are fed at first with 

 insects, and especially with the Iarva9 of ants. This fine Bird is 

 often domesticated in Sweden, and will breed in confinement. 

 The Ptarmigans are nearly allied to the Grouse, but are destined 

 to inhabit still colder regions. They frequent the open heaths 

 and hill-sides of the northern parts of the temperate zone ; and 

 one species, the Grey Ptarmigan, is only found near the summits 

 of the loftier hills. The chief peculiarity in their structure 

 consists in the covering of their legs and toes with thick hair-like 

 feathers, down to the very claws ; and this covering becomes so 

 thick and deep in winter, as to give to the leg the appearance of 

 a Hare's foot, from which the scientific name of the genus, 

 Lagopus, is derived. The base of the beak, also, is covered with 

 closely-set feathers ; and these increase in the colder season, until 

 little more than the^point of the bill is visible. Their food consists 

 of mountain berries and heath-shoots in summer ; and of buds 

 and leaves in winter ; and at the latter season, the Birds are often 

 obliged to burrow under the snow for food and shelter. Two 



