igo casskll's uouk or lirds. 



THE HAZEL GROUSE. 

 The Hazel Grouse {Bo/iasia sylvcstris), a third siiecies, represents a group tiiat have their 

 tarsi only panially feathered, and their toes quite bare. These birds have the tail composed of si.xteen 

 featliers, and rounded at its e.\tremity, while the plumage on the head is prolonged into a crest. The 

 sexes are very similarly coloured, and of about the same size. The plumage on the mantle is spotted 

 reddish grey and white, most of the feathers being also delicately pencilled with undulating black lines. 

 The reddish grey upper w'mg is enlivened with white streaks and spots ; the throat is spotted brown 

 and white. The quills are greyish brown, dotted with reddish white on the narrow outer web, 

 and the blackish tail-leathers dotted with grey, those in the centre being marked with reddish brown. 

 The eye is rust-brown, the beak black, and the bare part of the foot gre)'ish brown. 



The length of the male is from seventeen to eighteen inches, and the breadth from twenty-three to 

 twenty-five inches; the wing measures seven and the. tail five inches ; the female is about one-fifth or 

 one-si.\th smaller than her mate. The habitat of this species extends from the Alps to the extreme 

 north of Europe, and frorir Scandinavia to Eastern Siberia, Extensive forests of oak, beech, alder, and 

 hazel are the situations it prefers, whilst it almost entirely avoids fir and pine woods ; for this reason, it 

 is by no means equally spread over this portion of the European continent, being numerously met 

 with in a large part of Scandinavia, Russia, and Siberia, whilst in Austria, Bavaria, Bohemia, and 

 Silesia it is comparatively rare, and in Northern Germany quite unknown. In certain districts the 

 Hazel Grouse remains within its forest home throughout the entire year, and in others wanders to a 

 short distance in search of berries. These e.xpeditions are made by the male birds alone, and they 

 usually return within a month to their former haunts. Leyen informs us that the retreats chosen by these 

 birds vary with the different seasons of the year — that in May, J une, and July they seek the borders of the 

 forest, and in August some retire within the most sheltered nooks of its interior to subsist upon berries, 

 while others wander over the country in the manner above described. In September they again seek 

 the brushwood, and in winter make their home within their favourite forests. In Switzerland they 

 appear to prefer the wooded tracts of the Alps, and are very rarely seen upon the plains that lie 

 beneath. They frequently associate with the Capercali, but often venture higher than that bird. In 

 the more northern parts of Eurojje, they are also met with in mountainous districts, and in Scandinavia 

 are especially numerous at the foot of the Northern Alps. 



The Hazel Grouse is peculiarly quiet and retired in its habits, and has but one mate ; its 

 movements upon the ground are rapid, and its power of springing from one point to another when in 

 danger remarkable. Naumann mentions having seen one of these birds leap to a height of fully four 

 feet, in order to snatch some berries from a bush. Whilst running the hen keeps her crest close to her 

 head, whilst that of the male is fully expanded and displayed. Although not much in the habit of 

 having recourse to its wings, the flight of the Hazel Grouse is strong and more rapid than that of the 

 Capercali ; in its general character it resembles that of the Partridge. 



In Finland, M. Wilhelm von Wright tells us, that the Hazel Hen is found in larger or smaller 

 packs, according to their greater or less abundance in the districts. " It is not for me, of course," says 

 Mr. Lloyd, " to question the accuracy of so good an observer, but singularly enough I myself never 

 heard of more than a single family continuing in company. Sweden, however, is not Finland, and the 

 habits of birds may vary in different countries. The favourite haunts of the Hazel Hen are hilly and 

 wooded districts. In the open country it is never found, but it somewhat varies its ground, according 

 to the season of the year. During summer and autumn one often sees these birds in woods con- 

 sisting of deciduous trees ; but when the leaves begin to fall, they retire to the great pine forests, 

 probably that they may be less exposed to birds of prey. 



