THE WOOD GROUSE OR CAPERCAILZIE. 135 



game. I had no opportunity of handling them, or 

 of examining them very minutely, but the general 

 view which I had of them, at the distance of a few 

 feet, did not enable me to distinguish the difference 

 between the young males and females. They seemed 

 precisely the same at that time both in size and plu- 

 mage, although I doubt not the male markings must 

 have soon shewn themselves on the young cocks. 

 The single surviving bird of those hatched by the 

 mother died of an accident, after living in a very 

 healthy state for several weeks. Two of those 

 hatched by the common hen died of some disease, 

 the nature of which is not known, after lingering for 

 a considerable time. It follows that there are only 

 two young birds remaining. These are both fe- 

 males, and when I last heard of them some months 

 ago, were in a thriving condition. 



" The whole progeny were fed at first, and for 

 some time, with young ants, that is, with those 

 whitish grain-shaped bodies, which are the larvae and 

 crysalids in their cocoons of these industrious crea- 

 tures, though commonly called ant's eggs. At that 

 period they were also occasionally supplied with 

 some tender grass, cut very short. As soon as they 

 had acquired some strength, they began to eat oats 

 and pot barley, together with grass and the various 

 kinds of moss. They are now fed like the three 

 old birds, chiefly on grain and heather tops, with the 

 young shoots, and other tender portions of the Scotch 

 fir. I am informed that the distinction between the 



