Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1890-06-26
SWEDISH GAME BIRDS.


Two Varieties That Are to Re
Into This Country.
There IS something Of interest to
sportsmen in a report Just received at
the State Department from Minister
Thomas. at Stockholm. The Minister
proposes to introduce into this country
the ~capercailzie and the black game.
These are the two most important birds
of Sweden and Norway. In the fall and
the winter they are to be seen hanging
on branches at the market places Of
Stockholm.
The capercailzie is the largest and
noblest member % the grouse family.
The full grown male weighs from ten
10 twelve pounds lie is an extremely
hardy birL In sweden and Norway he
Is found in large numbers up 10 and be-
yond the arctic circle. as far as the
SEVENTEEN parallel Of north latitude.
He can endure the ~severest cold and
deepest SHOWS Of the longest winters
lie often avoid1 the bitterest cold by
~burroNing into the snow. thus obtaining
warmth and shelter.
This bird suhsists on the coarsest and
eommonest food. He feeds upon the
buds and leaves 81 trees. the needles or
leaves OF the pine and spruce. young
pine cones. clover and grass. berries of
all sorts. seed and grain. ami insects of
every kind In the depth Of winter a
c~aperrailzie has been known to live for
more than 4 week in the same pine
tree. subsisting entirely upon pine
leaves and young pine cones.
The c~aperrailzie is pre-eminently n
bird Of the pine woods, or pine mixed
with birch. spruce, maple and other
Erowths. He loves wooded hiIl-sides
better han wooded plains. and he must.
have flesh water near by--either =
brook Or pond or a piece of swampy
ground
The black game inh1bits nearly the
SAFE region a. the eapercailizie. lie
Is equally hardy and can withstand the
eUld and SHOWS Of the most rigorous
northern winters His weight is about
three pounds-abOut the same A. our
prairie chicken The male bird IS a
lussrOuS. metallic black in color: hence
the name. He has. however. a white
stripe in his wings. and his. jet-black.
misunderstanding tail feathers are much
priced a. ! hat in the TyroL
The black game Is also a grouse. and
he is often found in company with the
rapercailzie, or at least in close prox-
unity The hiaek game Is also a bird
~ The WOODS, but the birch is prs-emi-
nently bis tree, though he is met with
N mixed -rowths % almost evey va
rsety. lie does not frequent the deep
wousts 80 much A. the eapercailizie; he
loves better the borlers Of the forest
ami woods and groves with frequent
openings He Is also fond - cranberry
swamps, and in swampy lanis IS often
found miles away from any forrest
His food i much the sane Is the
~eauercailzie& though o SO COARSE. i.
consists chiefly % the buds and leaves
u trees berries and insec.S In sum
mer the black game i very fond 81:
bluehsrrie$ r~aspbsrries and cranhsr-
ries, IN winter he feeds principally up
on the buds 81 the birch. harel alder
willow and beach. and when pressed foe
fool viii eat the young green cones OF
tine pine This bird seems 20 - equal
lY fond Of animal food. and readily eats
snails. worms, the a-ve % ants, fieS
beetles, etc.
II IS my firm conviction tina these
valuable birds will thrive Throughout.
all tho wooded districts Of New En-
gland. New York and Pennsylvania.
and westward through the greater por-
tion OF the States az Michigan. WIscon-
sin and Minnesota They will also find
a c%ongenial home along the wooded
slopes of the Rocky mountains for their
entire length. a. we'll As in all tho
wooded ravines and decliviti-s of the
mountain ranges of California-Wash-
ington Letter in ST. Louis GIobe-Demo-
crat