130 Northern Observations of Inland Birds 



assaulting them even when on their nests, and constantly 

 bullying and harassing them. The birds thrive much 

 better if all possible steps be taken for keeping down the 

 number of cocks, though on most estates this desirable 

 end is not very easy to achieve, the cocks being too 

 cunning. I have, however, killed scores of blackcock by 

 building shelters under the birch and alder trees I knew 

 them to frequent, then waiting for them with an air- rifle. 

 One may get as many as four or five without moving 

 from one shelter, as the noise of the gun is not sufficient 

 to alarm them. As for the falling birds — blackgame are 

 at all times so clumsy in the trees that repeatedly one will 

 be seen to fall several feet, flapping wildly as it descends, 

 so that the descent of the *' hit " birds does not unduly 

 alarm the others. In most localities the packs of black- 

 cocks are so wsiry that there is no other way I know of 

 getting near to them — except, of course, by organized 

 driving. Three or four shelters should be built, con- 

 sisting simply of piles of untrimmed spruce, and left in 

 position some time before being used. The more shelters 

 one has the less frequently need one return to the same 

 places, and it may be added that it is fatal to leave the 

 shelter within view of the birds. If this be done they 

 will never return to that place except when there is no 

 one in the shelter, seeming to possess an uncanny sixth 

 sense in this respect. Both for blackgame and capercaillie 

 the large size B.S.A. air-rifle should be used, as the 

 smaller slugs are very apt to cripple while not killing. 

 It is best to aim at the bird between the legs. 



While it is true almost everywhere of blackgame that 

 there are too many male birds, this is not universally 

 true of the caper, as I have come across certain forestS; 

 sometimes of great area, in which numbers of hen birds 

 were to be seen, but no cocks. This state of affairs arises 

 from the periodical partial migrations of the species. 



