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When a covey is scared up, they immediately settle in a tree, and may be shot one after the 

 other ; for they are not shy, and seek safety in sitting motionless, squatting close to the branch, 

 and trusting to concealment alone. It is difficult for a person who has not shot these birds to 

 imagine how very easy it is to look carefully all over a tree on which the birds are sitting and 

 still not be able to discover a single one ; for the colour of the plumage harmonizes so well with 

 the dark brown of the tree-bark that the bird appears to form a portion of the branch on which 

 he is sitting. Unlike the American Hazel-Grouse (JBonasa mnbellus) this species will not tree to 

 a dog, especially if the latter gives tongue, but will immediately leave the tree and take to flight. 

 Mr. Collett, however, informs us that dogs are trained to hunt after this bird, and when it flies 

 up in the tree they will sit twelve or fifteen paces distant and watch without barking, or only 

 making a very low noise. The flesh of the Hazel-Grouse is especially tasty ; and epicures hold 

 that the breast is a most delicate morsel. To the St.-Petersburg and Moscow markets whole 

 sledge-loads are sent for sale from the Governments of Jaroslaf and Archangel, where this bird 

 abounds, and bring comparatively high prices. They are seldom brought into our London 

 market ; but an occasional bird or two come over from Norway with the other game. 



Respecting the nidification of the Hazel-Grouse we have pleasure in giving the following 

 excellent notes sent to us by our friend Mr. R. Collett, of Christiania : — " In its breeding-habits 

 it differs much from the other Wood-Grouse, as it is monogamous, each male having but one 

 female (who, however, is not always a paragon of fidelity), whereas the Capercailzie and Black- 

 cock have several mates. It is, however, so sociable in disposition that as soon as the young are 

 full-grown the whole family gather together and wander about until the commencement of the 

 winter. Then they scatter somewhat — as each male seeks a mate in December, and the pair live 

 together until after the next breeding-season. After pairing, the male leaves the female and lives 

 a solitary life as long as she is sitting, not honouring her again with his company until the young 

 are full-grown. Early in May the female seeks out a solitary and concealed place in the densest 

 part of the wood, where she scratches a hole and places her eggs on a simple bed of dry herbage. 

 The nest is generally placed amongst the heather, or under a bush, but always carefully con- 

 cealed ; and the female sits so close that she may almost be trodden on. The number of the eggs 

 varies according to the age of the female ; for middle-aged females lay as many as fourteen, 

 whereas young and very old females lay from eight to ten eggs." 



Our friend Dr. Taczanowski has sent us a note as follows : — " It feeds principally on buds 

 and male flowers of different trees and bushes, such as the hazel and birch, seeds of many wood- 

 land plants and conifers, also on fruit, especially that of the service tree. It also feeds much on 

 insects in summer. About the end of April or early in May the female commences nidification. 

 She scratches a cavity about 8 inches in diameter by 6 inches in depth, at the foot of a bush 

 or in an open place, and lines it with a few dry grasses or leaves, where she deposits from eight 

 to fourteen eggs. She sits so closely that she may be caught on her nest. When the young are 

 hatched she attends to them until they are about half-grown ; and then the brood disperse, but 

 often reassemble." Naumann writes: — "In the summer they are found on the ground, and 

 hide amongst the underbrush or in the grass, but in the autumn and spring are often to be seen 

 on the trees, seldom, however, high up, but generally on the lowest branches. In the winter 

 they burrow in the snow, partly for security and partly in search of food, and often form long 



