328 TETRAONIDJL 



time ; very commonly, however, he sits on the pines, some- 

 times on the very uppermost branches. During the night 

 he generally roosts in the trees ; but if the weather be very 

 cold, he not unfrequently buries himself in the snow. Con- 

 sidering the large size of the bird, his flight is not par- 

 ticularly heavy or noisy." Mr. Lloyd has not only seen 

 this bird at a very considerable height in the air, but has 

 known him take a flight of several miles at a time. t: The 

 Capercali lives to a considerable age ; at least so I infer, " 

 says Mr. Lloyd, "from the cocks not attaining to their full 

 growth until their third year or upward. The old ones 

 may be easily known from their greater bulk, their eagle- 

 like bill, and the more beautiful glossiness of their plumage. 

 The size of these birds appears to depend, in a great de- 

 gree, on the latitude where they are found. In Lapland, 

 for instance, the cocks seldom exceed nine or ten pounds. 

 In Wermeland, and adjacent parts, again, I have never 

 heard of their being killed of more than thirteen pounds ; 

 whilst in the more southern provinces of Sweden, and I 

 have three several authorities for my statement they have 

 not unfrequently been met with weighing seventeen pounds 

 and upwards. The hen Capercali usually weighs from five 

 to six pounds." 



" The Capercali is often domesticated in Sweden ; in- 

 deed, both at Uddeholm and Risater, as well as other 

 places, I have known them to be kept for a long period in 

 aviaries built for the purpose. These birds were so per- 

 fectly tame as to feed out of the hand. Their food prin- 

 cipally consisted of oats, and of the leaves of the Scotch fir, 

 Pinus sylvestris, large branches of which were usually in- 

 troduced into their cages once or more in the course of the 

 week. They were also supplied with abundance of native 

 berries when procurable. They were amply provided at 



