34 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



tively common in many of the northern parts of Great 

 Britain, but about the year 1760 they became practically 

 extinct. They have, however, been re-introduced, and their 

 complete restoration to the list of British birds may now be 

 taken as an accomplished fact. The Capereatllie is to be 

 found in almost every part of the Scandinavian peninsula, 

 and also in several of the countries of Northern Europe 

 which abound in extensive forests of fir. The bird is 

 seldom, if ever, met with in small growths of trees ; it loves 

 the dense, deeply-shaded tracts of pine, and only when 

 forced by long protracted cold does it quit these resorts for 

 the more open districts to be found on lower grounds. 



The food of the Capercaillie consists principally of the 

 young leaves and shoots of the Scotch fir, juniper berries, 

 cranberries, blueberries, and indeed any other kind found in 

 the forests in which it lives. The young birds are fed for 

 some time on ants' eggs, worms, and various insects. 



The cry or song of the adult male is somewhat remark- 

 able ; it is uttered in the spring of the year both in the 

 early morning and after sunset. The bird stations himself 

 on a tree in some conspicuous place, and the note (which is 

 intended to attract the females) is continued in a most 

 wearisome and persistent manner. It is said to resemble 

 the words "peller, peller, peller," and during the time 

 occupied in this somewhat grotesque love-song the per- 

 former gets into a state of the greatest excitement. The 

 cry of the female is not dissimilar to the croak of the 

 Raven, but is not quite so hoarse. During the period 

 immediately preceding nesting operations, numerous quar- 

 rels take place between the male birds ; this un amiable 

 disposition is, however, universal amongst the Tetraonida3. 



The nest of the Capercaillie is made upon the ground ; 



