20 CArEKCAILLIE. 



broods, of eight or ten each, have been the result. Several broods were also produced by 

 the Capercaillie that had been turned out, thus placing beyond the possibility of doubt, 

 the fact that, with proper care and attention, these birds may be induced to breed in 

 our larger woods and preserves. The ultimate effect of this well devised and admirably 

 conducted experiment yet remains to be seen. Whether the protection afforded them will 

 be sufficient to keep in check the inroads of the poachers, whose cupidity cannot but be 

 excited by the prospect of securing so large and valuable a bird; or whether they will 

 be so far destroyed illegally, as to render their preservation from entire destruction merely 

 a matter of curiosity, remains yet to be seen. Certainly the climate is not likely to 

 interfere with its complete naturalization, for we find it inhabiting Norway, Sweden, 

 Northern Russia — both in Europe and Asia, Germany, Hungary, and some parts of the 

 Alps. In fact, wherever very extensive pine forests afford it food and shelter, there it 

 is found in more or less abundance. 



We have various accounts as to the desirableness of the Capercaillie as an article of 

 food. By some they are pronounced to be coarse and ill-flavoured; by others they are 

 considered, particularly the females, to be excellent. Mr. Greiff, a Swedish gentleman of 

 high rank as a sportsman, says, as quoted by Mr. Lloyd, "of the supply this bird furnishes 

 to the larder, and the delicious dish it forms, when brought to table, every one knows 

 the value." We have on several occasions partaken of this bird at table, and although 

 we should not say it was coarse or disagreeable, still it certainly possessed somewhat the 

 turpentiney flavour one might expect it to have when feeding on the pine leaves. 



This discrepancy in the accounts of the Cock of the Woods, as a bird for the table, 

 may, we think, probably be very readily explained. The times when we have had oppor- 

 tunities of tasting this bird were on each occasion rather late in the winter, when they 

 had, for a considerable period, been feeding on the pine leaves chiefly; we can easily 

 conceive this bird in autumn, when feeding on the various wild berries, then so prevalent, 

 to be very superior in flavour to one, which for several months had subsisted almost wholly 

 on the turpentiney leaves of the pine. 



In describing the habits of the Capercaillie, we must have recourse entirely to the 

 accounts of others, never having ourselves had any opportunity of seeing it even alive, 

 much less in a state of nature. It is well that we have such admirable and trust-worthy 

 accounts of its manners and habits from the pen of Mr. L. Lloyd, to which we have 

 before referred. 



The favourite haunts of the Cock of the Woods are extensive pine forests, in these it 

 usually remains during the whole year; and is seldom or never found in coppices or small 

 cover. Some, howevei*, occasional^ breed on the sides of the lofty mountains, but as 

 the cold increases, and deep snow lies on the ground, they generally betake themselves 

 to the lower and more sheltered grounds. "Excepting there be a deep snow, the Caper- 



