442. BRITISH BIRDS. 
tions is usually a favourite pine tree, conspicuous from its position on an 
eminence or in an open part of the forest, but it is said that a flat-topped 
rock in the forest is sometimes chosen as the /ek-stdlle or “ laking-place.” 
Just before sunrise and immediately after sunset are the times chosen by 
the male to repair to the “laking-place” which he has frequented for 
years. Perched on a conspicuous branch he stretches out his neck, ruffles 
his feathers, and with drooping wings and erected tail, which is spread out 
like a fan, he begins his “spel” or love-song. Mr. Lloyd (‘Game Birds 
and Wild Fowl of Sweden and Norway,’ p. 21) describes it as consisting 
of three notes: pellep, several times repeated, resembling the sound of two 
dry sticks struck together ; klickop, also repeated, like smacking the tongue 
against the palate; and hede, several times repeated, said to resemble the 
sound made by sucking in the breath noisily, or by the grinding a knife 
ona whetstone. The performance lasts two or three minutes, and is often 
immediately repeated. The bird works himself into such a state of ecstasy 
that during the last part of the “spel” he is oblivious of surrounding 
objects, and is often shot by the natives, who take advantage of these 
periods to advance by hurried stages within range. The females reply 
with a harsh croak, and gather round him trying to attract his attention, 
and finally he descends from his perch and pairs with each in succession. 
The “ laking-places”’ are usually near each other, and are often frequented 
by numerous cocks; but only the strongest birds are allowed to “ spel,” 
the younger and weaker ones being obliged to stand aside until they have 
fought their way into the privileged circle. 
The Capercaillie does not make any nest, but merely scrapes a hollow in 
the ground among the heather or bilberries in the forest, collecting no 
lining, but merely arranging the bits of dry grass that happen accidentally 
to be on the spot. Naumann, who no doubt obtained his information from 
the German foresters, says that young hens seldom lay less than five, or 
more than eight eggs, but that older birds lay as many as eight to twelve, 
and in rare instances fourteen or even sixteen. The ground-colour is pale 
brownish buff spotted with reddish brown; these spots are generally 
profusely distributed, and in size vary from that of a pin’s head to a mere 
speck. In exceptionally handsome eggs many of the spots approach the 
size of a pea, and some of them are fantastically shaped, whilst clutches 
are occasionally found in which the spots are principally very small and so 
evenly distributed over the entire surface of the egg as to conceal the 
ground-colour. The eggs vary in length from 2°35 to 2-0 inch, and in 
breadth from 1°7 to 1°5 inch, and resemble very closely those of the Black 
Grouse, but may be distinguished by their larger size. 
The Capercaillie generally roosts in trees, but in severe seasons it will 
seek shelter from the cold by burrowing into the snow. 
The general colour of the adult male Capercaillie is dark slate-grey, 
