186 CAPERCATLLIE. 
North Cape itself: the forests of this and other species are 
its resort. It is the most plentiful in Norway, ‘and very 
scarce in the southern parts of Sweden. It is found in Jut- 
land, Russia, Norway, Prussia, Siberia, Poland, Germany, 
Livonia, and Hungary; it is said also to occur on the 
Pyrenees on the borders of Spain, on the Appenine range in 
Italy, in Switzerland, Greece, and some of the islands of the 
Grecian Archipelago, and in Upper Alsace: in France it is 
rare. It is found also in Asia—in Tartary. 
Professor Nillson says that in the larger forests it remains 
all the year round; but that those which inhabit the sides 
_ of mountains, or any more open part of the country, descend 
in hard weather to lower ground. 
The Capereaillie is for the most part on the ground, though 
commonly also he perches on the trees, and the latter especially 
in time of snow. He generally roosts at sunset in trees, but 
is also said to shelter himself in the snow. He is of shy 
habits, and is difficult to rise, running off on the slightest 
alarm. His favourite haunt is in the depth of the forest of 
the pine, the beech, and the oak, among tangled brushwood, 
fallen trees, and rude rocks; in these indeed he is alone found. 
Combats occasionally take place between the males. The young 
cocks do not attain their full growth till the third year, or 
upwards. They are frequently domesticated, so much so as 
to feed out of the hand, and have been known to breed in 
confinement. They at times, however, become fierce and will 
attack people, and one has even been known to do so in the 
wild state, battling with any intruders on his wood. Another 
had the same habit, and was removed to a distance of fourteen 
miles, but the next day he was back at his old place. They 
will occasionally breed with the Black Grouse. In their 
manners they are said to be dull and heavy, but the females 
less so than the males, and also less shy. Meyer says that 
if surprised, she crouches flat to the ground with her brood, 
and if approached closely, she and they fly off to the lower 
boughs of some tree, and do not wait then for a second 
approach. The male, he adds, is very unsociable, roving about 
by himself till the spring, when he joins his mates for a few 
weeks, and then returns to his former habits, leaving the 
females to take care of the nests, eggs, and broods. 
As a game bird, it is of course made use of for the table, 
but is not particularly good eating; the eggs, however, are 
so. It will keep, when dried, for a year. Abroad, they are 
