146 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



THE WOOD GROUSE, OB CAPERCAILZIE. Tetrao urogallus. 

 The Capercailzie was for many years extinct in Britain, 

 but by the importation of birds from Northern Europe 

 we hope it may be considered as reinstated in its ancient 

 domain. In size the male bird equals the Turkey; a fine 

 male specimen will sit two feet above the branch on which 

 he is perched, and will measure in total length from two 

 feet ten inches to three feet, but the female is considerably 

 smaller. " The Capercailzie is abundant in Norway, Sweden, 

 Russia towards Siberia, the north of Asia, and some parts 

 of Germany and Hungary, wherever pine-forests of sufficient 

 extent afford it a home." It feeds on the leaves of the 

 Scotch fir, juniper-berries, cranberries, blueberries, and oc- 

 casionally, in winter, on the buds of the birch. The breed- 

 ing season commences early in the spring, before the snow 

 is off the ground. The female makes her nest upon the 

 ground, and lays from six to twelve eggs, of a pale orange- 

 colour, speckled with orange-brown. (PL XI. fig. 76.) 



THE BLACK GROUSE, OR BLACKCOCK. Tetrao tetrix. 

 This species is distributed in Great Britain, in suitable 

 localities, from the New Forest to the Highlands of Scot- 

 land, but is far more abundant in the north than in the 

 south. The Blackcock is polygamous, and upon the females 



