256 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



the fir-trees. There, amid the branches of the 

 mighty pines, he sits, generally roosting in the 

 trees at night ; but if the weather be very cold, 

 he not unfrequently buries himself in the snow. 

 Considering the large size of the bird, which is 

 equal in bulk to a turkey (weighing from 8 to 

 10 Ibs., or even more), his flight is not particularly 

 heavy or noisy. 



There is an admirable account of the habits of 

 this noble bird in Mr, Lloyd's " Field Sports of 

 the North of Europe," and in " The Zoologist, for 

 1850," the Kev. A. C. Smith, has contributed a 

 few interesting extracts from his journal on this 

 " pride of the Norwegian forests." He says t 



"The birds inhabit the thickest parts of the 

 forests ; and difficult, indeed, is the ground which 

 the sportsman has to traverse in pursuit of them ; 

 generally among fallen trees, and huge masses of 

 rock, and uptorn trunks, and tangled brushwood, 

 the capercailzie loves to dwell. The old cock is a 

 wary and cunning bird, and, as though knowing 

 that his great bulk presents a larger mark for the 

 sportsman, and is more difficult to conceal among 

 the trees, he will run in advance of you through 

 the forest, till he is far beyond your reach." 



The native sportsmen are so well aware of this, 

 that it seems they have recourse to art in order to 

 secure their game. They lie in wait in the forest, 



