CAPERCAILLIE. 27 



The nest of the Capercaillie hen is placed upon the ground in some quiet and secluded 

 situation. She lays from six to twelve eggs, on which she sits for twenty-nine days. 

 The young birds run as soon as they are hatched; they remain with the mother till 

 towards the winter, but the cocks leave her sooner than the hens. 



The eggs "are two inches three lines long, by one inch eight lines in breadth, of a 

 pale reddish yellow brown, spotted all over with two shades of darker orange brown." 



Like other birds the Capercaillie is occasionally found to vary in its plumage ; Mr. Lloyd 

 mentions a hen which, with the exception of a few gray feathers, was entirely white. 

 The same gentleman asserts that "The Capercaillie occasionally breed with the Black 

 Game; the produce of which are in Sweden called 'Backlehanen ;' (the 'Tetrao medius' 

 of authors;) these partake of the leading characteristics of both species. But their size 

 and colour greatly depend upon whether the connexion was between the Capercaillie cock 

 and the Gray hen, or 'vice versa.' Out of twenty 'Backlehanar,' which is the male, two, 

 according to Mr. Falk, are not alike; and the difference of colour, observable among the 

 'Backleho'nan, which is the female, but which are very rare, is still greater. 'Racklehanen' 

 are very seldom to be met with. During my stay in Wermeland, however, Mr. Falk had 

 two of these birds in his possession, and I myself shot a third." 



Many people think that the 'Tetrao medius' is a distinct species, but we confess that 

 we are inclined to consider, with Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Falk, that it is only a hybrid. 



The Capercaillie, in its native forests in the north of Europe, is undoubtedly polygamous, 

 and in any attempt to preserve it in this country, it will be absolutely necessary to keep 

 down the males, so as not to allow them to approach to anything like an equality in 

 numbers with the females. The rule which is generally adopted by sportsmen, in Pheasant 

 shooting, to spare the hens, must be adopted in shooting the Capercaillie also. 



In the adult male the bill, which is large, strong, and hooked, is of the colour of 

 horn. The nostrils are small, and nearly concealed under some short feathers, which 

 extend under the throat, and are much longer there than the rest, and are of a black 

 colour. Irides, hazel ; over each eye there is a patch of naked skin, of a bright scarlet 

 colour. The feathers of the head and neck are beautifully speckled with grayish white on 

 a brownish black ground; those on the head and throat rather elongated. The back and 

 upper tail coverts, marked like the head and neck, but not so regularly. Breast, black, 

 richly glossed with dark green at the upper part, and with a few white feathers on the body 

 and thighs. Wings, dark brown, mottled with light brown; wing coverts, the same; under 

 wing coverts, white, showing on the shoulder like a white patch. Sides and flank have 

 the feathers of brownish gray, speckled with black. Tail feathers, eighteen in number, are 

 black, the outside ones with a few white spots. Legs, very strong, covered with brownish 

 gray feathers. Toes and claws, black. 



The adult female has the bill dark horn, paler at tip. Irides, as in the male. Head 



