234 



B. Cursores, Illig., Sund. 

 6. Gallinæ, Lin. 



Tetrao uro gal l us, Lin. 



The distribution of this species coalesces with the limits of 

 the fir (Pinus sylvestris) in a vertical and horizontal direction. 

 Abundant in the valley of the Maalselv, and occurs as far north as 

 Bosekop, in Alten (70°), where it is well known ; I myself observed a 

 female there, on the 16th July 1872. In the interior of Finmark it is not 

 so common, but has been met with however at Karasjok, (an individual 

 having been shot on the roof of the village church, in January 

 1872). It ranges as far north in East Finmark (Syd Varanger). 



Every winter I have met with sterile female individuals, which 

 to a greater or less extent had assumed the garb of the male. It 

 is obvious that the reason of this sterility cannot always be old 

 age, several of these females having been young birds. and in the 

 latter a diseased state of the ovarium must be the true cause. The 

 most remarkable example of this kind I found in the game-market 

 of Christiania, Oet. 18th 1872. In dress and size (Total length 655 mm) 

 it exhibited so striking a resemblance to an old and fully co- 

 loured male as to be with difticulty distinguished from one. 

 As in all probability verv few individuals are characterised by such a 

 dress, and as it is scarcely possible for any individual to ap- 

 proach closer to the male bird in appearance, the sterile females 

 can probably always be distinguished from the males by the fol- 

 lowing peculiarities of plumage: — The beard-like feathers on the 

 throat speckled with white, bill dark, tail finely speckled with greyish 

 red, (without the large white spots of the male capercaillie). 



letrao tetrix, Lin. 



The valley of the Maalselv. near Tromsø (69° 20'), is the ex- 

 treme limit of its distribution ; here it occurs in limited numbers only. 

 Stray individuals have been shot near Tromsø, somewhat further 

 north. 



