24 COMBATS BETWEEN THE COCKS. 



in the marshes, the snipe drums in tlie air, and the dung- 

 beetle buzzes about one's ears," the Capercali is said 

 to sjiel best. Commonly he holds his spel from day- 

 break to sunrise, and from a little after sunset until quite 

 dark. The length of time greatly depends on the state 

 of the weather and the season of the year. When the 

 spring is far advanced, indeed, he not unfrequently con- 

 tinues his spel throughout the greater part of the night. 



During calm and misty weather, the spel of the Caper- 

 cali is most animated. Even during a regular downfall 

 of rain or sleet, unless accompanied by a high wind, 

 he carries it on. Ekstrom mentions having on one 

 occasion shot a Capercali at the "lek-stiille," whose 

 sides were altogether white with wet snow, which had 

 fastened amongst his feathers. If the weather be ex- 

 tremely cold, his spel is either dull or he ceases altogether, 

 and for the reason, as surmised, that the froth, which at 

 such times exudes from his bill, becomes congealed, and 

 prevents him from expressing his notes. 



The j)eriod when the Capercali discontinues his spel 

 depends much on the season ; for if forward, he begins 

 early and concludes early ; but if, on the contrary, the 

 spring be backward, the reverse is the case. As a general 

 rule, " S2}ortsmen consider his spel ended when the leaves 

 of the mountain ash are as large as the bird's own foot :" 

 but in parts of the country the peasants entertain the 

 notion, that the cessation of his spel is dependent on other 

 causes than the state of the w^eather. They say that, 

 " every time he holds his spel he plucks away one of the 

 horny scales growing about his toes, and that it is not 

 until they are all gone that his spel terminates." 



Tlie Capercali occasionally strikes up a few notes about 



word road, as usually written when speaking of the nioruiiig and evt-iiiug 

 flight of the woodcock. 



