26 CURIOUS CROSSES. 



moniiug to cut wood in the forest. When arrived there, 

 tliey saw two Capercali cocks fighting desperately on a 

 rising ground. Neither of tlie men having a gun or other 

 weapon, my servant at once sprang forward and tlirew 

 himself on the combatants ; but his comrade being 

 somewhat timid did not come to his aid, and he was 

 only able to retain one of the birds, which he brought 

 home to me." 



When the pairing season is over, or even previously, 

 the females retire to their several breeding-grounds. 

 These comprise not only the great pine forests of the 

 lowlands, but those clothing the lower slopes of the fjiills. 

 We are told, indeed, by M. Earth, that " on two occa- 

 sions, during the autumn of 18G2, he met with broods of 

 Capercali in small patches of willow bushes on the high 

 fjiills themselves, and at a considerable distance above 

 the last birch-tree." 



The female makes her nest, which is a mere hole 

 scraped in the ground, under a tree or bush. The eggs, 

 numbering from five or six to twelve or fifteen, according, 

 as it is believed, to the age of the bird, are of a dirty 

 yellow colour, marked with light-brown spots and blotches. 

 In length they are 2^^■, inches, and in thickness If inches. 



The period of incubation is said to be a month. The 

 young, usually hatched about the beginning of June, keejj 

 Avith the mother until towards the approach of winter, or 

 even longer, but the cock separates from her at a much 

 earlier period. 



In connection with the breeding habits of the Cajiercali, 

 I am reminded of a story told me by a friend, for the 

 authenticity of which he vouched, namely, that several eggs 

 of this bird had been sat uj^on and hatched by a bed- 

 ridden old man. The wonder, however, ended not here; 

 for the chicks were reared, and one, if not more, lived for 

 two years afterwards. And the story may be true, for a 



