THE PTARMIGAN. 141 



THE FIFTH FAMILY OF THE GALLIX.E, OR GAME BIRDS. 

 THE GROUSE AND PARTRIDGES (Tctraonithc). 



The Grouse differ from the Partridges chiefly in their feathered toes, and in having the nostrils 

 shut in by a soft feathered skin, whereas the Partridges have an open nostril and bare legs. None 

 of the members of the Grouse or Partridges have spurs. 



THE FIRST SUB-FAMILY OF THE TETRAOXID.E THE GROUSE ( Tctraomnai). 



These birds are entirely peculiar to the northern parts of the Old and New "Worlds. In Europe 

 the most familiar species are the Red Grouse, the Ptarmigan, the Hazel Grouse, and, above all, the 

 Black Cock and Capercailzie ; whilst in North America, in addition to the White Grouse and 

 Ptarmigan, there are several fine kinds, such as the Pinnated Grouse, the Canada Grouse and others. 

 The Capercailzie (Tetrao uroyallus) is the largest species which we have in Europe, where it is found 

 most plentifully in the forests of the north ; but it is also met with in the pine-forests of Central and 

 Southern Europe, and is known to inhabit the Pyrenees. In the extreme east of Siberia it is repre- 

 sented by a second species (Tetrao urogaUoides). 



The Capercailzie was never a very common, bird in England, and inhabited only the northern 

 parts of Scot' -m-., in which it gradually became extinct. About fifty years ago, an attempt to 

 re-introduce th biv vas made by the Marquis of Breaclalbane, with such success that in certain 

 districts of Scotlanu die Capercailzie is now quite plentiful. Numbers of them are exposed for sale 

 during the winter in the London shops, many of them, however, coming from Norway, where the 

 species is common, and a capital account of its habits will be found in Mr. Lloyd's " Game-birds and 

 Wild-fowl of Sweden and Norway." The nest of the Capercailzie is placed on the ground, and from 

 six to twelve egg.s are laid by the hen bird, who looks after the rearing of the young, without 

 assistance from the cock. The young ones keep with their mother until the winter commences, the 

 cock birds separating from her before the hens. In spring-time the male Capercailzie begins his 

 2>t(ii/i as it is called, like many other Game-birds, for the purpose of attracting the hen birds. Seated on. 

 u pine, he starts his love-song, which is kept up the entire day from sunrise to sunset, and while 

 thus engaged he becomes so absorbed in his efforts, that he falls an easy prey to the gunner, who 

 is able to creep up within shooting distance. The same spot is used as a " playing-ground " by the 

 male Capercailzie for a considerable time, if the bird is undisturbed, and several birds may be heard 

 in the same locality at the same time. Fights often take place between the males, and the old birds 

 never allow the young cocks of the preceding year to play on their domain. The cry of the male 

 resembles the words peller, peller, peller, increasing in rapidity ; and this is replied to by the 

 females within hearing by a sort of harsh croak resembling the words goet, go3t, goet. While 

 uttering his notes, the cock bird puffs out his plumage and puts himself in extraordinary 

 attitudes. 



The length of the Capercailzie is about twenty-eight or thirty inches, the plumage is black, the 

 nape and hind neck deep grey with blackish wavy lines. The under parts are spotted with white, 

 and there is a steel-green shade in the breast : tail black, with white spots. The female is smaller, 

 and is of a sandy-brown colour, barred and variegated with black. 



The Black Cock (Tetrao, or Lyrurus tetrix) is also found only in the Pala?arctic region. It is 

 widely spread over Europe, but is replaced in the Caucasus by another species the Georgian Black 

 Grouse. The beautiful curved outer tail-feathers always serve to distinguish the Black game from 

 the Capercailzie. The Hazel Grouse (Bonasia betvlina) is another European Grouse, which, however, 

 does not come to England, but is found over Northern Europe and North Asia, and is a pretty bird 

 with a fine crest. 



The Ptarmigan (Lacjopv.s mutns) is found on the high mountains of Scotland, and throughout 

 the mountainous parts of Europe, but does not occur in America. The present species, according to Dr. 

 Dresser, " inhabits the more elevated, rocky, and barren localities, where it replaces the Scottish Grouse 

 and the Willow Grouse, and it seldom or never descends to, the lowlands, where these latter species 

 have their home, iinless driven down by stress of weather in search after food. The tracts of ground 

 over which the Ptarmigan is distributed are much more extensive and more inaccessible than those 

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