COCK OF THE PLAINS. Tetrao urophasianut. 



statue. This is absolutely necessary; for during his play, excepting during the gulp, 

 &.C., the Capercaillie is exceedingly watchful, and easily takes the alarm. If all remain 

 quiet, however, the bird usually goes on again immediately with his first strain, and when 

 he once more comes to the final note, the sportsman advances as before. 



To become a proficient at this sport requires a good deal of practice. In the first 

 place, a person must know how to take advantage of the ground when advancing upon 

 the Capercaillie ; for if in full daylight, this is hardly practicable in exposed situations ; 

 and in the next, that he may not move forward excepting upon the note which is so fatal 

 to that bird. This is likely enough to happen if it be an old cock that has been previously 

 exposed to shots, for he often runs on with Peller, peller, peller, until one supposes that 

 he is just coming to the gulp, when he suddenly makes a stop. If, therefore, a person 

 were then incautiously to advance, he would, in all probability, instantly take to flight." 



The nest of the Capercaillie is made upon the ground, and contains eight to ten eggs ; 

 when hatched, the young are fed upon insects, more especially ants and their pupse. 

 The adult birds feed mostly on vegetable substances, such as juniper, cranberry, and 

 bilberries, and the leaves and buds of several trees. 



The colour of the adult male bird is chestnut-brown covered with a number of black 

 lines irregularly dispersed, the breast is black with a gloss of green, and the abdomen is 

 simply black, as are the lengthened feathers of the throat and the tail. The female is 

 easily known by the bars of red and black which traverse the head and neck, and the 

 reddish yellow barred with black of the under surface. In size, the Capercaillie i-3 nearly 

 equal to a turkey 



