WOOD GROUSE. 
277 
RA SORES. 
TETRA ONID.E. 
WOOD GROUSE, 
COCK OF THE WOODS, CAPERCAILLIE. 
PLATE LXIX. FIG. II. 
This fine bird, which has been for some time extinct in 
our own country, breeds in the mountainous pine-forests 
of the north of Europe, in Norway, Sweden, and Russia. 
In Norway it is, however, in some seasons so rare—and 
the year of our visit was one of scarcity—that it was 
with the greatest difficulty that we could procure speci¬ 
mens of its eggs; and although wandering for many days 
through those parts which were far from human habita¬ 
tion, and where we were told it was abundant, we had, in 
two instances only, the satisfaction of seeing it alive. In 
these remote situations it lays its eggs under the shelter 
of a young spruce-fir-tree, in those parts of the forest 
which are clear of the large timber; they are from eight 
to twelve in number, and are deposited upon a small 
quantity of dry grass towards the end of June. 
Though for many years extinct in Britain, several at¬ 
tempts have recently been made to re-establish the Caper¬ 
caillie in this country, and, I trust, with some success. 
Mr. Hancock has several eggs, laid in Scotland during 
the year 1853. The eggs of this and the following spe¬ 
cies have all the character of those of the turkey. 
