488 THE CAPERCAILLIE. 



peller ! These sounds he repeats at first at some little intervals ; but as he proceeds, they 

 increase in rapidity, until at last, and after perhaps the lapse of a minute or so, he makes a 

 sort of gulp in his throat and finishes with sucking in, as it were, his breath. 



"During the continuance of this latter process, which only lasts a few seconds, the head 

 of the Capercaillie is thrown up, his eyes are partially closed, and his whole appearance would 

 denote that he is worked up into an agony of passion. At this time his faculties are much 

 absorbed, and it is not difficult to approach him. . . . The play of the Capercaillie is not 

 loud, and should there be any wind stirring in the trees at the time, it cannot be heard at any 

 considerable distance. Indeed, during the calmest and most favorable weather, it is not 

 audible at more than two or three hundred paces. 



" On hearing the call of the cock, the hens, whose cry in some degree resembles the croak 

 of the raven, or rather perhaps the sounds, GocJc ! GocJc ! GocJc ! assemble from all parts of 

 the surrounding forest. The male bird now descends from the eminence on which he was 

 perched, to the ground, where he and his female friends join company. 



"The Capercaillie does not play indiscriminately over the forest, but he has his certain 

 stations (Tjader-lek, which may perhaps be rendered, his playing-grounds). These, however, 

 are often of some little extent. Here, unless very much persecuted, the song of these birds 

 may be heard in the sparing for years together. The Capercaillie does not. during his play, 

 confine himself to any particular tree, for, on the contrary, it is seldom he is to be met with 

 exactly on the same spot for two days in succession. 



" On these lek, several Capercaillie may occasionally be heard playing at the same time ; 

 Mr. Grieff, in his quaint way, observes, ' It then' goes gloriously.' So long, however, as the 

 old male birds are alive, they will not, it is said, permit the young ones, or those of the 

 preceding season, to play. Should the old birds, however, be killed, the young ones, in the 

 course of a day or two, usually open their pipes. Combats, as it may be supposed, not 

 unfrequently take place on these occasions ; though I do not recollect having heard of more 

 than two of these birds being engaged at the same time. 



"Though altogether contrary to law, it is now that the greatest slaughter is committed 

 among the Capercaillie ; for any lump of a fellow who has strength to draw a trigger may, with 

 a little instruction, manage to knock them down. As the plan, however, of shooting these 

 noble birds during their play is something curious, I shall do my beat to describe it. 



" It being first ascertained where the lek is situated, the sportsman proceeds to the spot and 

 listens in profound silence until he hears the call of the cock. So long, however, as the bird 

 only repeats his commencing sound, he must, if he be at all near to him, remain stationary ; 

 but the instant the Capercaille comes to the wind-up, the gulp, etc., during which, as I have 

 just now said, its faculties of both seeing and hearing are in a degree absorbed, then he may 

 advance a little. This note, however, lasts so short a time, that the sportsman is seldom able 

 to take more than three or four steps before it ceases ; for the instant that is the case, he must 

 again halt, and if in an exposed situation remain fixed like a statue. This is absolutely neces- 

 sary ; for during his play, excepting during the gulp, etc., the Capercaillie is exceedingly 

 watchful, and easily takes the alarm. If all remain quiet, however, the bird usually goes on 

 again immediately with his first strain, and when he once more comes to the final note, the 

 sportsman advances as before. 



" To become a proficient at this sport requires a good deal of practice. In the first place, a 

 person must know how to take advantage of the ground when advancing upon the Capercaillie ; 

 for if in full daylight, this -is- hardly practicable in exposed situations ; and in the next, that 

 he may not move forward excepting upon the note which is so fatal to that bird. This is likely 

 enough to happen if it be an old cock that has been previously exposed to shots, for he often 

 runs on with Peller, peller, peller, until one supposes that he is just coming to the gulp, when 

 he suddenly makes a stop. If, therefore, a person were then incautiously to advance, he 

 would, in all probability, -instantly take to flight." 



The nest of the Capercaillie is made upon the ground, and contains eight to ten eggs ; 

 when hatched, the young are fed upon insects, more especially ants and their pupae. The 



