Capercaillie occur in considerable numbers, both in the preserve of Pilawin and the neighbouring forests. They are shot in spring during the calling season. At one of the Count’s shooting-lodges in the neighbourhood, where a metal plate is fixed to the walls to commemorate the shooting of each capercaillie, the number of such plates exceeds ninety; and in the house at Pilawin is exhibited a photograph of five cocks shot in a single day. Black game (_Tetrao tetrix_), as well as hazel-grouse (_Tetrastes bonasia_), are likewise more or less abundant in the coverts. Partridges and quail breed in the corn-fields, although in no great numbers; the partridge being the common grey species. Duck of three or four kinds, as well as a few snipe, breed in the marshes; but there appears to be no winter influx of either ducks or geese. Hazel-grouse are shot by beating the forest, when the birds alight momentarily on the branches of the firs or oaks, where they offer fair marks. The sight of a sea-eagle sailing majestically over the forest glades is comparatively common; while spotted eagles may from time to time be observed, and harrier-eagles (_Circaëtus gallicus_) are abundant. Eagle-owls (_Bubo ignavus_) haunt the pine-forests at all times of the year; and in spring a certain number of snowy owls (_Nyctea scandiaca_) make their appearance from the north. A semi-Indian character is communicated to the bird-fauna by the number of blue rollers (_Coracias garrulus_), locally known as Polish parrots, which may be seen in the open country; while lovely blue-throats (_Cyanecula suecica_) likewise form objects of special interest to the ornithologist from England. Of other birds it will suffice to mention that wheatears, red and grey shrikes, magpies, and wagtails are most in evidence in the open, while jays, green and pied woodpeckers (lesser and great), and nuthatches abound in the forest. [Illustration: AN ASIATIC (? SAYANSK) WAPITI.] The most interesting feature in the reptilian life of the country is the occurrence of a number of European water-tortoises (_Emys orbicularis_) in the forest lakes and ponds. One of these we brought home, where it is now flourishing in a green-house. Reference may also be made to the hosts of green tree-frogs (_Hyla arborea_), whose loud croakings are frequently the only sounds to break the impressive mid-day stillness of the forest. When we first heard the croaking, we mistook it for the note of a bird. The huge size of the ant-hills, many of which are over a yard in height, is another feature of the forests which cannot fail to strike the observer fresh from England. The one drawback to existence--and it is a great one--in this forest-paradise is the abundance of mosquitoes, which make their presence known in the usual objectionable manner. [Illustration: WAPITI STAG AND HIND.]