52 TETRAONIDJE. 



cock. He begins bis play witb a call sometbiug resembling 

 tbe word peller, j^eller, peller ; tbese sounds be repeats at 

 first at some little intervals ; but as be proceeds tbey 

 increase in rapidity, until at last, and after perbaps tbe 

 lapse of a minute or so, be makes a sort of gulp in bis 

 tbroat, and finisbes by drawing in bis breatb. During tbe 

 continuance of tbis latter process, wbicb only lasts a few 

 seconds, tbe bead of tbe Capercali is tbrown up, bis eyes 

 are partially closed, and bis wbole appearance Avould denote 

 tbat be is worked up into an agony of passion. 



" On bearing tbe call of the cock, tbe bens, wbose cry in 

 some degree resembles tbe croak of tbe Raven, or ratber, 

 perbaps, tbe sound gock, gock, gock, assemble from all parts 

 of tbe surrounding forest, Tbe male bird now descends 

 from tbe eminence on wbicb be was percbed to tbe ground, 

 wbere be and bis female friends join company. 



" Tbe Capercali does not play indiscriminately over tbe 

 forest, but be has bis certain stations, wbicb may be called 

 bis playing-grounds. Tbese, bowever, are often of some 

 little extent. Here, unless very mucb persecuted, tbe call 

 of tbese birds may be beard in tbe spring for j^ears together. 

 Tbe Capercali does not during bis play confine bimself to 

 any particular tree, and is seldom to be met witb exactly on 

 tbe same spot for two days in succession. On tbese playing- 

 grounds several Capercali may occasionally be beard playing 

 at tbe same time. Old male birds will not permit tbe 

 young ones, or those of the preceding season, to play. 

 Should tbe old birds, however, be killed, the young ones, in 

 the course of a day or two, usually open their pipes. Com- 

 bats, as may be supposed, not uufrequently take place on 

 tbese occasions ; though I do not recollect having beard 

 of more than two of these birds being engaged at tbe same 

 time. 



" Excepting there be a deep snow, the Capercali is much 

 upon the ground in tbe daytime ; very commonly, bowever, 

 be sits on the pines, sometimes on the very uppermost 

 branches. During tbe night be generally roosts in the 

 trees ; but if the weather be very cold, he not uufrequently 



