148 GAME BIRDS OF INDIA AND ASIA. 



Blackgame. 



Lyritrus tetrix, Brit. Mus. Cat., Birds, Vol. XXII, p. 55- 



Native names: — Tetereff for the cock and Kosach for 

 the hen, in Russian. 



The male, or Blackcock, is about as big as a Phea.sant, glossy 

 blue-black in colour except for a white bar on the wing and a 

 white patch under the tail, the tail being strongly forked. The 

 female or grey hen is smaller ; with a shorter but stiU forked tail, 

 and brown plumage barred across with black. This species 

 ranges from Great Britain east at least as far as Manchuria ; 

 it is polygamous, and collects in the spring at certain play-places, 

 showing off on the ground, the hen lays in May six to twelve 

 pale buff eggs well speckled with chocolate. 



Caucasian Blackgame. 



Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi, Brit. Mus. Cat., Birds, Vol. 

 XXII, p. 59. 



Native kames : — Jaban tank, Persian; Paitmorek , 

 Armenian ; Kara-touch, Tartar. 



Confined to the Caucasus Mountains, this species is distinguish- 

 ed from the common blackgame by the cock being entirely 

 black, with a much longer tail, and the hen having her brown 

 plumage much more finely and closely marked — pencilled rather 

 than barred ; her tail is also longer than that of the common grey 

 hen by about an inch. The eggs are paler than those of the last 

 species. 



Capercailzie. 



Teirao urogallits. Brit. Mus, Cat, Birds, Vol. XXII, 

 p. 62. 



Native names : — Glouhar for the cock and Kopolitha 

 for the hen. in Russian. 



This is the largest of the grouse, the cock being as big as a 

 small hen turkey, with a large pale yellowish bill and medium 

 length, rounded tail ; the general plumage is iron-grey, brown and 

 black, with a few white markings, the breast metallic dark-green. 

 The hen, which is much smaller, is very like the grey hen, but 

 has not the tail forked, and is much larger, two feet instead' of a 



