CAPERCAILLIE 49 



light colours being strongly developed the dark plumage 

 occurring most frequently amongst young birds, and the 

 white amongst old ones, the latter being frequently white 

 from the crop downwards besides having the beautiful 

 white spots on the upper wing-coverts. 



TOCXG HALE CAPER IX FIRST PLUMAGE. 



The Capercaillie is a bird in which albinism, or any 

 variety, is extremely rare ; and after a careful search 

 amongst the best British collections, I have not been able 

 to discover a British-killed variety. In the year 1889, 

 however, through the kindness of Colonel Richardson of 



