CAPERCAILLIE, or CAPER CAILZIE, kii'•r-kal'zi or -kiiFyi (of uncertain etymology, possibly from Gael. eabhqr, hawk -I-.
collie, wood; according to some, from Gael. (apan-coinc, from capall, mare, Lat. cabanas, horse + coinc, or from Gael. cabhar coileach, WoOd WOOD-GROUSE, or COCK OF TILE NV000s. A European grouse (Tetra° urogallas), almost equal in size to the turkey. The adult male is brownish-black, minutely freckled with grayish white, and with lighter brown; quill-feathers,
breeding season, the cock "mounts to the top most boughs of a tall tree, whence he challenges all comers by extraordinary sounds and gestures,
the hens . . . timidly abide below the result of the frequent duels, patiently submit ting themselves to the victor." During these antics the bird seems oblivious to all else, and may easily be approached. The eapercaillie is found on the pine-covered mountains of all parts of Europe, and a related species (Tetrao urogal loides) is abundant in the northern parts of Asia. It once lived in Scotland and Ireland, where it was completely extirpated toward the end of the Eighteenth Century, but has been re stored to the forests of northern Scotland by stock imported from Scandinavia. The caper caillie is readily domesticated. if allowed the range of a space containing a few pine-trees, and is much esteemed for the table. It is hunt ed with the aid of dogs, who 'tree' the birds, when they are shot down. Consult: Lloyd, Game Birds of Sweden and Norway (London, 1S67) ; Morris, British Game Birds (London, 1891) ; Darwin, Descent of Alan (London, 2d ed., 1874). See Plate of OnousE, ETC.