BLACK GROUSE. 35 



and capturing the Black Game in Eussia and Siberia. He says, "In Russia the shooting 

 of the Black Grouse is conducted in the following way: — -Huts full of loop-holes, like 

 little forts, are built for this purpose in the woods frequented by these birds. Upon 

 the trees, within shot of these huts, are placed artificial decoy-birds, commonly made of 

 black cloth, Avith the marks of the natural fowl : as the Grouse assemble, the company 

 fire through the openings, and so long as the sportsman is concealed, the report of the 

 gun does not frighten away the birds ; several of them may therefore be killed from the 

 same tree. If by chance three or four are placed on branches one above the other, the 

 sportsman has only to shoot the undermost bird first, and the others gradually upwards 

 in succession; the uppermost bird is earnestly employed in looking down after his fellow- 

 companion, and keeps chattering to it till he becomes the next victim. 



During winter, in Siberia, they take these birds in the following manner : — A certain 

 number of poles are laid horizontally on forked sticks, in the open forests of birch; 

 small bundles of corn, by way of allurement, are tied on them, and, at a small distance, 

 certain tall baskets, of a conic shape, are set, with the broadest part uppermost; just 

 within the mouth of the basket is placed a small wheel, through which passes an axis, 

 so nicely fixed as to admit it to play very readily, and on the least touch, either on 

 one side or the other, to drop down, and again recover its situation. The Black Grouse 

 are soon attracted by the corn on the horizontal poles, first alight upon them, and after 

 a short repast, fly to the baskets, and attempt to settle on their tops, when the wheel 

 drops sideways, and they fall headlong into the trap, which is sometimes found half full." 



As might be expected from the nature of the localities chosen by the Black Grouse, 

 the food on which it subsists is subject to considerable variety: thus in the summer it 

 chiefly consists of the flowers of various plants, such as the autumnal hawkbit, (Apargia 

 autumndlis,) of which it is said to be extremely fond; several species of Ranunculus, 

 or buttercup; the various species of chickweed, (Cerastium;) the very numerous tribe 

 of Carices, or sedges; common eye-bright, (Euphrasia officinalis;) various grasses; the 

 leaves of some of the small willows; green corn occasionally; and towards the autumn 

 the seeds of various plants; the berries of such alpine plants as the cranberry, (Vaccinium 

 oxycoccosf) the whortleberry, (V. myrtillus ;) the cowberry, (V. vitis idcea;) the crow- 

 berry, (Empetrum. nigrum;) the red bearberry, {Arbutus uva ursi;) together with 

 numerous insects. In the autumn all the berries just named, together with the dried 

 flower heads of the scabious, (Scabiosa succisa;) some of the Compositce; the seeds of 

 the various grasses; oats; leaves of the scabious ; the greater plantain, (Plantago major ;) 

 the flowers of various Ranunculi; the twigs of the ling, (Calluna vulgaris;) and of the 

 cranberry, etc. In the winter months the "bill of fare" is more circumscribed, consisting 

 chiefly of the twigs of ling, tops of herbaceous plants, young shoots of fir, catkins of 

 birch and hazel, which, as well as the leaves of the ferns, communicate a peculiar flavour to 



