LIV. 

 TETRAO UROGALLUS. (linn.) 



Wood Grous, Cock of the Wood, Capercalze. 



This fine bird, which has been tor some time extinct in 

 our own country, breeds in the mountainous pine forests of 

 the north of Europe, in Russia, Sweden, and Norway. In 

 the last mentioned country it is, however, so rare, that it was 

 with the greatest difficulty that we could procure specimens 

 of its eggs ; and, although wandering for many days through 

 those parts which were far from human habitation, and where 

 we were told it was most abundant, we had, in two instances 

 only, the satisfaction of seeing it alive. In these remote situa- 

 tions it lays its eggs, under the shelter of a young spruce fir, 

 in those parts of the foi'est which are clear of the larger 

 timber ; they are eight or ten in number, and are deposited 

 upon a small quantity of dry grass towards the end of June. 

 Several of these birds have, for some years, been brought 

 over to Scotland by Lord Fyfe, in order to try to establish 

 them in his extensive woods. After many failures, he suc- 

 ceeded during the summer of 1832, in rearing some young 

 ones, which were to be turned at large. Of the success of 

 this interesting experiment, I have not heard, but sincerely 

 hope that it may succeed. — Fig. 1 represents the egg, which 

 varies only in the size of the spots. 



