142 TETRAO UROGALLUS. 



are generally in packs. These are usually composed wholly of 

 cocks (the hens keeping apart), and do not separate until the 

 approach of spring. These packs are sometimes said to contain 

 fifty or a hundred birds, usually hold to the sides of the numer- 

 ous lakes and morasses with which the northern forests abound ; 

 and to stalk the same in the winter-time with a good rifle is no 

 ignoble amusement. Among other expedients resorted to in 

 the northern forests for the destruction of the Capercailzie is 

 the following : — During the autumnal months, after flushing 

 and dispersing the brood, people place themselves in ambush, 

 and imitate the cry of the old or young birds, as circumstances 

 may require. By thus attracting them to the spot, they are 

 often enabled to shoot the whole brood in succession. In other 

 instances, the Capercailzie is shot in the night-time, by torch- 

 light. This plan, which is said to be very destructive, is, I 

 believe, confined to the southern provinces of Sw^eden, for in 

 the more northern parts of that country I never heard of its 

 being adopted. In Smaland and Ostergothland, this is said to 

 be eftected in the following manner : — Towards night-fall, 

 people watch the last flight of the Capercailzie before they go 

 to roost. The direction they have taken into the forest is then 

 carefully marked by means of a prostrate tree, or by one which 

 is felled especially for the purpose. After dark, two men start 

 in pursuit of the birds : one of them is provided with a gun, 

 the other with a long pole, to either end of which a flambeau 

 is attached. The man with the flambeau now goes in advance, 

 the other remaining at the prostrate tree, to keep it and the 

 two lights in an exact line with each other. By this curious 

 contrivance they cannot well go astray in the forest. Thus 

 they proceed, occasionally halting, and taking a fresh mark, 

 until they come near to the spot where they may have reason 

 to suppose the birds are roosting. They now carefully examine 

 the trees ; and w^hen they discover the objects of their pursuit, 

 which are said stupidly to remain gazing at the fire blazing 

 beneath, they shoot them at their leisure. Should there be 

 several Capercailzies in the same tree, however, it is always 

 necessary to shoot those in the lower branches in the first in- 

 stance ; for, unless one of these birds falls on its companions, 



