MORE ABOUT GAME-BIRDS. 133 



thence that he is brought in swift steamers to supply 

 our game-markets. 



Game from the north of Europe is brought to 

 us now, like beef and mutton from our colonies, 

 in a frozen state. There are more facilities than 

 there used to be to enable all kinds of foreign 

 game, and particularly the capercailzie, to be 

 brought into the markets. When this bird is 

 placed upon the table it is interesting to speculate 

 as to how short a time has passed since he was 

 alive in some wild region of his native Scandinavia, 

 where fierce, gaunt, grey wolves are perhaps even 

 more numerous than men. 



The capercailzie is no exception to that general 

 rule, the varying in size. In some parts of the 

 country where he is to be found he will attain 

 his full development, while in others he will to 

 a certain extent be much smaller. Capercailzies 

 vary in size as much as do our domestic turkeys. 

 All to whom these native birds have been presented, 

 know that their size differs very greatly according to 

 the localities they come from. 



Before leaving the subject let me give a 

 slight sketch of this grand bird in his Scandin- 



