TETRAO UEOGALLUS. 
“ Toward morning — but long before dawn — at two or three o’cloct generally, and while the stillness yet reigns upon the earth like a 
superincumbent thing, the Cock awakes and begins his peculiar call. Though low in tone, such an absolute quiet reigns, that it is heard 
distinctly even when yon are not close to the bird. 
“Before this begins, however, yon must be near the tree yoir noted so well the preceding evening. As it is still night, there is some 
difficulty in discovering, any object ; and only the dark, undefined outlines of large masses like trees can be discovered as you peer up- 
ward, and your vision grows accustomed to the darkness. 
“ But hark ! from a distance yoir hear a sound which, did you not know what it was, you surely would never interpret. Prom a 
tree-top it comes across to you through the air, sounding something like a person pronouncing ‘ Tut, tut,’ gutturaUy, in the depth of his 
throat, or as if two pieces of hard wood were being knocked against each other. 
“Well, that’s a cheering circumstance; for, though you knew he must be there, yon were not sure if he would call or not, and with- 
out that there were no possibility of approaching him. And after rising at midnight, and a walk of some hours through the wood, and 
a cold hour's watching before the dawn, it is vexatious to hear nothing ; and still more so, when day is just breaking, to distinguish the 
dark form of the capercaile a hundred yards distant, on a projecting bough. 
“But this morning there is no cause for regrets, or lamentation, or complaint. You are at your post betimes, the bird is not far, and 
he has begun his love-call ; and that is all you can desire. Ho repeats it often, too, and quicker, and more quickly, and you have a 
foreboding of success ; for such accelerated utterance betokens that the sweet frenzy possesses him, and 'that love and its madness are 
blinding him, even as they blind men. The guttural ‘ tut, tut,’ is followed by another, not unlike the smack with the tongue one curious 
in wine will give after having tasted a sort which he finds superlatively excellent. This is repeated a few times, and then comes a 
changing, now louder now' lower, sound, resembling a long drawm-out ‘ whish,’ or that gliding sound which a scythe makes in sweeping at 
morning through the heavy, deAvy grass. This is the close of the call ; and while he utters it, he spreads out his tail like a fan, the 
wings, quivering Avith excitement, are extended downAvard, and Avith head outstretched, and all the feathers roimd the neck standing on 
end like a ruff, he pirouettes on his perch, or goes sideways to and fro the AA'hole length of the branch. It is during this finale that the 
bird may be approached ; for while the fit is on him, Avhile the ecstasy lasts, he sees and hears nothing.” 
When uttering this note, the hunter takes a few steps forward, and then remains motionless, Avaiting for a repetition of the call ; and 
if he times his movements properly, he is enabled to approach Avithin shot, Avithout having his presence noticed by the bird. 
Early in May, the female, having selected a place amid long grasses, or in the thick bushes, for her nest, Avhich is carelessly formed, 
lays from eight to twelve eggs, and after about four weeks’ hatching the young appear. These immediately desert the nest and follow 
the hen, Avho evinces the most tender care for them, and feeds them upon ants’ eggs, insects, &c. 
This species is the type of the genus Tetrao, as constituted by LiuuaAus, and Avhich formerly w'as made to include nearly all the mem- 
bers of this family ; but, as now restricted, it contains only this bird and its relative, the T. JJmgaJloides. 
A great difference exists in the relative size of the tAvo sexes of the T. TJrogallus, the male being nearly as large again as the female ; 
and her flesh is much more preferable for food, as it is tender and juicy. 
The male has the entire upper parts blackish brown, eA'cry feather speckled Avith grayish. Head and neck similarly marked ; the 
feathers of the throat which are elongated are black. Breast black, with rich green reflections on the upper portion. Planks brownish 
' gray speckled wdth black, and with a few white feathers intermingled. Upper tail coverts like the back, tipped with white ; under cov- 
erts black, also margined Avith the same. Tail black. Bill horn-color; feathers on the legs broAvn, with a few bars of dark brown. 
Feet brown. 
The female has the upper parts a rich reddish brown, barred and blotched with black ; the feathers of the hind neck and rump tipped 
with grayish Avhite. Sides of neck, and throat and breast, rich orange, barred with black on the former; rest of lower parts lighter 
orange, each feather tipped with white. Tail reddish browm, barred with blackish brown. Bill dull horn-color. Tarsi covered with gray- 
ish brown feathers. Toes brown. 
The average length of the male is about three feet, and its Aveight eight or nine pounds. The female is about two feet in length. 
The plate represents the tAvo sexes, considerably reduced in size. 
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