52 TETRAONID^. 



cock. He begins bis play witb a call sometbing resembling 

 tbe word peller, peller, 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 would denote 

 tbat be is worked up into an agony of passion. 



" On bearing tbe call of tbe 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 bas 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 years togetber. 

 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 plajdng- 

 grounds several Capercali may occasionally be beard playing 

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

 young ones, or tbose of tbe preceding season, to play. 

 Sbould tbe old birds, bowever, be killed, tbe young ones, in 

 tbe course of a day or two, usually open tbeir pipes. Com- 

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

 tbese occasions ; tbougb I do not recollect baving beard 

 of more tban two of tbese birds being engaged at tbe same 

 time. 



" Excepting tbere be a deep snow, tbe Capercali is mucb 

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

 he sits on tbe pines, sometimes on tbe very uppermost 

 branches. During the night he generally roosts in the 

 trees ; but if tbe weather be very cold, be not unfrequently 



