The HAZEL GROUSE (_Bonasia sylvestris_), a third species, represents a
group that have their tarsi only partially feathered, and their toes quite
bare. These birds have the tail composed of sixteen feathers, and rounded
at its extremity, while the plumage on the head is prolonged into a crest.
The sexes are very similarly coloured, and of about the same size. The
plumage on the mantle is spotted reddish grey and white, most of the
feathers being also delicately pencilled with undulating black lines. The
reddish grey upper wing is enlivened with white streaks and spots; the
throat is spotted brown and white. The quills are greyish brown, dotted
with reddish white on the narrow outer web, and the blackish tail-feathers
dotted with grey, those in the centre being marked with reddish brown. The
eye is rust-brown, the beak black, and the bare part of the foot greyish
brown.
The length of the male is from seventeen to eighteen inches, and the
breadth from twenty-three to twenty-five inches; the wing measures seven
and the tail five inches; the female is about one-fifth or one-sixth
smaller than her mate. The habitat of this species extends from the Alps
to the extreme north of Europe, and from Scandinavia to Eastern Siberia.
Extensive forests of oak, beech, alder, and hazel are the situations it
prefers, whilst it almost entirely avoids fir and pine woods; for this
reason, it is by no means equally spread over this portion of the European
continent, being numerously met with in a large part of Scandinavia,
Russia, and Siberia, whilst in Austria, Bavaria, Bohemia, and Silesia it
is comparatively rare, and in Northern Germany quite unknown. In certain
districts the Hazel Grouse remains within its forest home throughout
the entire year, and in others wanders to a short distance in search of
berries. These expeditions are made by the male birds alone, and they
usually return within a month to their former haunts. Leyen informs us
that the retreats chosen by these birds vary with the different seasons of
the year--that in May, June, and July they seek the borders of the forest,
and in August some retire within the most sheltered nooks of its interior
to subsist upon berries, while others wander over the country in the
manner above described. In September they again seek the brushwood, and
in winter make their home within their favourite forests. In Switzerland
they appear to prefer the wooded tracts of the Alps, and are very rarely
seen upon the plains that lie beneath. They frequently associate with the
Capercali, but often venture higher than that bird. In the more northern
parts of Europe, they are also met with in mountainous districts, and in
Scandinavia are especially numerous at the foot of the Northern Alps.
The Hazel Grouse is peculiarly quiet and retired in its habits, and has
but one mate; its movements upon the ground are rapid, and its power of
springing from one point to another when in danger remarkable. Naumann
mentions having seen one of these birds leap to a height of fully four
feet, in order to snatch some berries from a bush. Whilst running the
hen keeps her crest close to her head, whilst that of the male is fully
expanded and displayed. Although not much in the habit of having recourse
to its wings, the flight of the Hazel Grouse is strong and more rapid than
that of the Capercali; in its general character it resembles that of the
Partridge.
In Finland, M. Wilhelm von Wright tells us, that the Hazel Hen is found in
larger or smaller packs, according to their greater or less abundance in
the districts. "It is not for me, of course," says Mr. Lloyd, "to question
the accuracy of so good an observer, but singularly enough I myself never
heard of more than a single family continuing in company. Sweden, however,
is not Finland, and the habits of birds may vary in different countries.
The favourite haunts of the Hazel Hen are hilly and wooded districts. In
the open country it is never found, but it somewhat varies its ground,
according to the season of the year. During summer and autumn one often
sees these birds in woods consisting of deciduous trees; but when the
leaves begin to fall, they retire to the great pine forests, probably that
they may be less exposed to birds of prey.
"Their food in the autumn consists of worms, larvæ, and the various
berries with which the Scandinavian forests abound; but in the winter,
when the snow lies deep on the ground, they subsist chiefly on the tender
tops of the birch and alder, especially the latter. I have then also found
in their crops the stalks and tops of the blackberry.
"Even when the Hazel Hen is 'treed,' a practised eye is often required to
discover its whereabouts, for it frequently sits so shrouded amongst the
branches of an umbrageous pine as not to be readily seen, at least by a
casual observer. It is so cunning, moreover, as to regulate its movements
by those of the fowler; for whilst he is on the look-out for the bird
on one side of the tree, it creeps to the opposite, leaving during its
progress little more than its head exposed, and that only for the purpose
of keeping the enemy in sight.
"The usual way of shooting the Hazel Hen in Scandinavia is without any
dog, and solely with the aid of the so-called _hjerp-pipa_, or pipe. This
implement, which is much less in size than one's finger, is constructed of
wood or metal, or, it may be, the 'wing-bone of a Black Cock.' It produces
a soft, whistling sound, that may be varied according to the call of the
bird. Such a pipe may be readily manufactured. Often, indeed," continues
Mr. Lloyd, "when we have accidentally met with a Hazel Hen has my man with
his knife alone made one out of a sapling of a pithy tree, and that in the
course of a very few minutes.
"Provided with this implement, the sportsman traverses the forest in
silence, and when he has succeeded in flushing the brood he, after a
time, begins to _lacka_, when one or other of the birds is pretty sure
to respond, or, it may be, fly directly towards him, and in the end he
usually succeeds in shooting the whole or greater part of them."
M. Wilhelm von Wright speaks of the Hazel Hen as an exceedingly amusing
bird in an aviary. At first it will not eat, but endeavours to hide
itself in a corner; the best way is therefore to supply it with food and
water and leave it to itself. Red whortle-berries and juniper-berries are
the best for it at first, but afterwards it will eat hempseed, barley,
buckwheat, and other grain. To induce it to drink, some berries should
be put into the vessel containing water; it will also eat meat, raw or
boiled. Dry sand should be placed in a box, as it "dusts" itself daily, if
provided with this, especially should the sun shine, it makes a hole with
its beak in the sand, which it throws over its body. Afterwards it lies
first on one side and then on the other, or on its back, with eyes half
closed, and often mounts on some part of the coop and whistles.