186 CAPERCAILLIE. 



North Cape itself: the forests of this and other species are 

 its resort. It is the most plentiful in Norway, and very 

 scarce in the southern parts of Sweden. It is found in Jut- 

 land, Russia, Norway, Prussia, Siberia, Poland, Germany, 

 Livonia, and Hungary; it is said also to occur on the 

 Pyrenees on the borders of Spain, on the Appenine range in 

 Italy, in Switzerland, Greece, and some of the islands of the 

 Grecian Archipelago, and in Upper Alsace: in Prance it is 

 rare. It is found also in Asia in Tartary. 



Professor Nillson says that in the larger forests it remains 

 all the year round; but that those which inhabit the sides 

 of mountains, or any more open part of the country, descend 

 in hard weather to lower ground. 



The Capercaillie is for the most part on the ground, though 

 commonly also he perches on the trees, and the latter especially 

 in time of snow. He generally roosts at sunset in trees, but 

 is also said to shelter himself in the snow. He is of shy 

 habits, and is difficult to rise, running off on the slightest 

 alarm. His favourite haunt is in the depth of the forest of 

 the pine, the beech, and the oak, among tangled brushwood, 

 fallen trees, and rude rocks; in these indeed he is alone found. 

 Combats occasionally take place between the males. The young 

 cocks do not attain their full growth till the third year, or 

 upwards. They are frequently domesticated, so much so as 

 to feed out of the hand, and have been known to breed in 

 confinement. They at times, however, become fierce and will 

 attack people, and one has even been known to do so in the 

 wild state, battling with any intruders on his wood. Another 

 had the same habit, and was removed to a distance of fourteen, 

 miles, but the next day he was back at his old place. They 

 will occasionally breed with the Black Grouse. In their 

 manners they are said to be dull and heavy, but the females 

 less so than the males, and also less shy. Me} r er says that 

 if surprised, she crouches flat to the ground with her brood, 

 and if approached closely, she and they fly off to the lower 

 boughs of some tree, and do not wait then for a second 

 approach. The male, he adds, is very unsociable, roving about 

 by himself till the spring, when he joins his mates for a few 

 weeks, and then returns to his former habits, leaving the 

 females to take care of the nests, eggs, and broods. 



As a game bird, it is of course made use of for the table, 

 but is not particularly good eating; the eggs, however, are 

 so. It will keep, when dried, for a year. Abroad, they are 



