TETRAO MLOKOSIEWICZI, t« cz . 



Georgian Black Grouse. 



Tetrao mlokosiewiczi, Taczanowski, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1875, p. 267—Dresser, Birds of Europe, part lii. (1876). 



The habitat of this species is, so far as we yet know, limited to the Caucasus range, where it was discovered 

 by a Polish gentleman, Mr. Mlokosiewicz, who forwarded specimens to Dr. Taczanowski at Warsaw in 1875 • 

 and they were described by the latter gentleman in the same year. It is a most interesting fact that a second 

 species of Black Grouse should turn up in the Caucasian Mountains, where the appearance of a Snow- 

 Partridge {Tetraogallus caucasicus) and other genera tends to demonstrate an affinity to the mountain-fauna 

 of the Himalayas. So thoroughly characteristic, however, of our northern avifauna is the common Black 

 Grouse {Tetrao tetrioc\ that the discovery of a second species only shows that the mountainous regions of 

 the Caucasus form a kind of border-line on which many of the Pakearctic and Indian forms inosculate. 



The following account of the habits of the present bird was contributed by the discoverer of the 

 species to Mr. Dresser for publication in the ' Birds of Europe:'— " I found this Grouse generally distributed 

 throughout the principal chain of the Caucasus from Kadora (Kachetie, opposite the village of Sabuji, fifteen 

 versts from Kwarel) to Zakataly, a distance of about a hundred versts. I observed it in the mountains of 

 Kapuczynsk, the principal place in which is Bezyt, and near Balakna, one of the Bogosk Mountains; and I 

 fully believe that it occurs throughout the entire chain of mountains. It occurs in the mountains of Armenia 

 to near the Achalcyk, near the frontiers of Turkey, at Delizana, the highest place on the route from Tiflis 

 to Erivan, and on Mount Ararat, which makes it probable that it occurs also in Kurdistan. In general it is 

 found in hilly districts covered with herbage. 



" I saw a specimen in the Museum at Tiflis, but do not know whence it came, as it is labelled merely 

 ' Tetrao tetrioe, L.' It is difficult to define the altitudes of the different localities frequented by this species, 

 as they vary according to circumstances. For instance, at Lagodechi, on the further end of the mountain, 

 behind which begins the arable region, it is found at 8700 metres, whereas at Manglis the height attained 

 is 6320 metres, &c. The localities in the neighbourhood of Lagodechi, as well as in the lowlands in the 

 district of Kapucrinske, are very varied in their characteristics — cold and and damp, owing to fo«s and 

 incessant rains ; marshes, however, there are none. On the lower border of this region the hill is sprinkled 

 with the following trees : — Fagus sijhatica ; Acer, sp. ; Sordus, sp. ; Rosa carina ; Rahis indicus ; Fragaria 

 vesca ; Vaccinium mystillus ; and a species of creeping Juniper which is found at a great height. 



" This Grouse is nowhere numerous, as the region it inhabits is narrow, and it never descends down the 

 mountains. About twenty years ago it was much more numerous than it now is, being, as it were, protected, 

 owing to the war, as was also Tetraogallus ; for the herdsman were afraid to enter the country with their 

 cattle. Now the entire district is full of flocks and herds, especially in the spring, when the grass is still 

 more scanty in the more elevated regions. The birds are therefore continually disturbed, and their eggs 

 are taken and eaten by the shepherds. I have generally, I may add, found the males more numerous than 

 the females. 



"I know but little of the habits of the present species. I have shot them late in May and early in June, 

 when the males were busy with their courtships and were drumming; but we were never fortunate enough 

 to witness them when engaged in the combats for the possession of the females so characteristic of the Black 

 Grouse, nor did we hear their pairing-call. It is partial to the grassy land ; and I have also met with it at 

 an altitude of at least 11,000 feet amongst the snow; but I may remark that I never saw any but solitary 

 males there. I have often seen a male standing motionless amongst the grass or on a stone for hours 

 together, whilst some six or seven others were scattered concealed amongst the surrounding scrub; and 

 though I racked my brain to think what could possibly be the use of this strange proceeding, I never could 

 properly understand it. It is not improbable that this solitary bird may be placed there as a sentinel : but 

 if so, he always failed in his duty ; for he was always the first one shot, and my companions killed most of 

 the specimens they procured when in this position. Possibly the bird has not yet learnt to regard man as 

 its natural foe ; or, perhaps, it takes up its position thus to more easily watch the movements of the females. 

 Be it as it may, there must be some valid reason for the bird sitting so long in this stationary position. 

 The flight of the male is audible at some distance, the sound resembling an agreeable whistling. With the 



