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the low growth, the Hazel-Grouse are numerous, and range up to an altitude of 3000 feet. The 

 stupidity of this bird, and the open situation of its nest, prevent it from increasing largely, 

 although here but few are killed by human agency. I have often seen how greedy and phleg- 

 matic they are. In the winter they stuff their crops so full of birch- and hazel-buds that they 

 can scarcely move, and become then an easy prey to birds of prey, Foxes, and Martens ; often 

 scarcely one tenth of their number survive the winter. I once wanted to try if it were possible 

 to increase them by preserving, and gave orders that in one district none should be shot for seven 

 years ; but still their numbers were not larger. Everywhere they appear to be found but singly." 

 Dr. L. Taczanowski informs us that the Hazel-Grouse is still found in all the forests of Poland, 

 but by degrees is growing rarer. It is resident, but in autumn makes short journeys from forest 

 to forest, and is then occasionally met with in the bushes in fields and in orchards. During his 

 journey through Southern Siberia, "Radde states that on the 3rd of July, 1859, he found fledged 

 young in the eastern Sajan mountains. Middendorff says that is " common everywhere in Siberia. 

 On the lower Jenesei I saw the last, below the polar circle, at Goroschinskoje; and a little to the 

 north of this, at Ustj-Kurejskoje, they are said to decrease greatly in numbers, and do not extend 

 higher than about 69° N. lat. In South-eastern Siberia they occurred everywhere abundantly, 

 both on the Stanowoj mountains, on the south coast of the Sea of Ochotsk, and everywhere in 

 Mantschuria." Dr. von Schrenck writes as follows : — " As far as my experience goes, the Hazel- 

 Grouse is the commonest and most numerous of the game-birds from the south coast of the Sea 

 of Ochotsk to the Bay of Hadshi, on the island of Sanghalien, and from the mouth of the Amoor 

 to its Daurian branches, and is found everywhere, and at all seasons of the year. Although there 

 is scarcely a place where it is wanting, still in the north it frequents especially the groves on the 

 river-sides, of birch, aspen, poplar, alder, and willow, and in the south the precipices covered 

 with thin woods and dense underbrush, as also the rocky shores of the river." Dr. von Schrenck 

 remarks on its great tameness, and says that he has several times shot a couple out of a covey 

 sitting on a tree without the rest taking flight. He found a nest, containing eggs, on the 4th 

 (16th) of June, near Lake Kidsi. Swinhoe includes it in his recent list of the birds of China 

 on the authority of Pere David, who has met with the species in Northern Chelee. Captain 

 Blakiston obtained it in Japan, and writes : — " This is, I believe, the first instance of this bird 

 being found in Japan; probably it does not inhabit the more southern part of the empire." 

 Mr. H. Whitely also remarks : — " I obtained three specimens (an adult male and female, and a 

 young male) of this bird from native bird-catchers. It is found in the large forests in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Hakodadi." 



The Hazel-Grouse is a true forest-bird, but frequents especially the non-evergreen woods 

 where birch and aspens abound, and where plenty of blueberries or other berries are to be 

 procured. Throughout the daytime it is continually wandering about on the ground, and will 

 traverse considerable distances. The latter part of August is the best time to shoot the Hazel- 

 Grouse ; and Dresser, during his stay in Finland, had many excellent days' sport after these 

 birds. The best mode of procuring them is not by hunting them with a dog, but by calling them 

 with a small whistle. The sportsman has only to walk quietly through the wood, and every now 

 and then to mimic the call-note of the bird, and he will soon be answered ; then, by keeping quiet 

 and judiciously calling, the bird may often be enticed within a short distance close to the caller. 



