THE CAPERCAILZIE 
there will be a crescent-shaped patch of bright scarlet, 
and under it a smaller mark of white feathers. 
When the baby Capercailzie first creeps out of 
the egg, he, most likely, finds himself in a little 
hollow in the ground, among the heather or the wire- 
like stems of the bilberries, and generally not very far 
from water. That is not much of a nest, certainly, 
but the mother does her best to make it snug by 
lining it with scraps of dried grass and dead leaves. 
Around him he will see the dark feathery 
boughs of pine and fir-trees and larches, for it is in 
the forests of Scotland that this bird is found, and in 
other Northern countries. 
In his nest the Capercailzie has from eight to 
twelve brothers and sisters, all of whom have made 
their way out of brownish-buflf eggs, spotted with 
reddish brown. The mother is very devoted, but 
the handsome father pays next to no attention to his 
babies. As a matter of fact, the father Capercailzie 
has so many wives and families that he could not 
possibly look after all his children. 
The mother, who is in appearance something 
like the hen pheasant, does not lack courage, and she 
will defend her young from all danger. If surprised 
II2 
