276 
ALLEN’S naturalist’s LIBRARY. 
worn nearly bare by constant traffic, is most entertaining to 
observe. With drooping wings, outspread tail, and many other 
curious antics, accompanied by an occasional spring into the 
air, he attempts to secure the goodwill of the ladies, and when 
two birds meet, a slight skirmish, in which a few feathers are 
lost, takes place. As a rule, no serious fights, such as one sees 
between Red Grouse, occur, merely a ‘ round with the gloves,’ 
to entertain the ladies of the harem; but occasionally, when 
two rivals chance to meet, a furious ‘ set-to ’ may be witnessed, 
the fight lasting till one or both birds are thoroughly exhausted, 
bleeding, and torn. These strange entertainments last till the 
females — or ‘ Grey-hens,’ as they are called — have laid all their 
eggs and commenced to sit, when the males are seen no more, 
the hatching of the eggs and rearing of the young being ex- 
clusively the task of the females.” 
Nest.— A slight hollow in the ground, scratched out and with 
little lining ; usually well concealed. 
Eggs.— Generally six to ten in number. Buff, spotted with 
rich brown. Average measurements, 2 inches by 1-4. 
THE CAPERCAILZIES. GENUS TETRAO. 
Tetrao, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 273 (1766). 
Type, T. urogalhts, Linn. 
The Capercailzies are the largest of the Grouse, and have 
eighteen tail-feathers like the Black Grouse. The tail is 
rounded or wedge-shaped, differing from that of the genus 
Lyi-urics in this respect. 
I. THE CAPERCAILZIE. TETRAO UROGALLUS. 
Tetrao urogaUus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 273 (1766); Macgill. 
Brit. B. i. p. 138 (1837); Dresser, B. Eur. vii p. 223, 
pi. 490 (1873); B. O. U. List Brit. B. p. 145 (1883); 
Saunders, cd. Yarrell’s Brit. B. iii. p. 45 (1883) ; Seebohm, 
Hist. Brit. B. ii. p. 440 (1884); Saunders, Man. Brit. B. 
p. 477 (1889) ; Ogilvie Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 60 
(1893); Lilford, Col. Fig. Brit. B. part xxviii. (1894); 
Ogilvie Grant in Allen’s Nat. Libr. ix. p. 49 (1895). 
