HAZEL GROUSE. 207 



as from nine to twelve pale yellow brown-spotted 

 eggs, in a hole in the moss on the ground. She 

 makes no nest. She hatches the eggs by herself, and 

 has all the care of the young. As soon as the young- 

 can fly the male comes back to them, and the whole 

 family live together during the autumn and winter. 

 They remain throughout the year in those woods in 

 which they take up their abode. I never saw more 

 than one family together in our forests, though in 

 Finland they are said to pack. In the beginning of 

 April they separate in pairs, and the breeding season 

 begins, although I never took a nest in Wermerland 

 till the middle of May. 



"In the north they are considered the most delicate 

 of forest game, but they afford little sport to the real 

 sportsman, as we generally shoot them from the perch. 

 I think they are more shy and retired in their habits 

 than any other of the Grouse." 



"The beak is black, thick, and convex; upper man- 

 dible the longest. First primary shorter than the 

 eighth, second shorter than the sixth; third, fourth, 

 and fifth alike, and longest. Tail somewhat rounded. 

 The crown feathers, which, in the male especially, are 

 long, can be raised into a kind of crest. Over the 

 eye is a small naked red spot, with small warts on 

 the upper edge, but no comb. Tarsi generally only 

 half, but sometimes three fourths covered with grey, 

 soft, hairy feathers; the naked part grey brown, covered 

 with divided half rings. Toes grey brown, covered 

 with half rings, and on the sides with scales, under 

 which they are fringed with combed teeth; claws pale 

 brown." 



"It varies much in size. From the northern tracts 

 the male is generally from fourteen inches to fourteen 



