🚀 go-pugleaf

Thank you to JonMikel, Luistxo and Miguel for their information. I also
recalled that I had a seven language dictionary of animals. It has all
european animals in German, English, Hungarian, Russian,Spanish, French,
Latin. Its an Hungarian publication.  They have the entry -

capercaillie; Moscovian black game cock/hen, wood grouse, great grouse, giant
grouse, cock of the mountain; auercalze(Scotland); cock of the wood (Ireland).

JonMikel you mention its role in basque poetry - how is it portrayed?
jon


    The Encyclopaedia Britannica (under "grouse") says:

    "The capercaillie or capercailzie (Tetrao urogallus), exclusively a
    European game bird, is the largest member of the grouse family. The
    male capercaillie, sometimes called cock of the woods, is about 85 cm
    (33 1/2 in.) long, with black and brown plumage glossed with blue and
    green. The hen, about one-third smaller, is mottled brown, with rusty
    breast patch. Hybrids of capercaillie and black grouse are fertile,
    suggesting a very close relationship."

    [The male and female of the black grouse are also known as
    "blackcock" and "grey hen" respectively].

    The Gaelic etymology of "horse of the woods" seems strange.  What's
    the connection with horses?  One would sooner expect something more
    like English "cock of the woods", but I can't find anything
    appropriate except Welsh <capwllt> "capon" (but that's <cabzn> in
    Modern Irish...).


    =======================
    Miguel Carrasquer Vidal
    mcv@wxs.nl
    Amsterdam

Jon
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