Birds of Britain 



immigration, however, took place in 1888, in which year 

 several pairs nested with us in Yorkshire and other places. 

 In 1889 a special Act of Parliament was passed for their 

 protection, but it came too late, for by that date they 

 had all been slaughtered or had left for more peaceful 

 localities. 



The eggs are two in number and of a warm stone buff 

 colour, with purplish blotches ; they are laid in a depression 

 in the ground with no attempt at a nest. Their food con- 

 sists almost entirely of seeds and grain. The general colour 

 is yellowish buff, greyer on the head and barred on the 

 back with black. Under parts greyish buff, mottled on the 

 gorget and banded on the belly with black. Feathers of 

 the vent and feet white. The female and young are 

 duller and more uniformly spotted. Length 14 '7 5 in.; 

 wing 9*1 in. 



THE CAPERCAILLIE 



Tetrao urogallus, Linnaeus 



Although originally an inhabitant of Great Britain, this 

 species became extinct over a hundred years ago from 

 causes which are by no means clear. In 1837 it was 

 introduced into Perthshire and a few other districts in 

 Scotland, where it has increased largely, and is at the present 

 tune gradually spreading southwards through the pine, oak, 

 and birch forests. 



It is essentially a forest-haunting species, rarely, if ever, 



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