52 HOW TO MAKE A BAG. 



can be no doubt, from the season of the year, these were 

 in general well-grown birds. The same writer tells us 

 besides that " a shot-gun was previously unknown in 

 those parts, and the peasants looked on with admiration 

 and astonishment when a bird was brought down ort the 

 wing ; " and still further, that the Capercali, from being 

 little molested, were so very tame as hardly to get out 

 of the way of the fowlers. 



When, however, the autumn is far advanced, and the 

 Capercali have become exceedingly wild, the better plan 

 to circumvent them is without any dog, unless it be 

 a retriever, or one that " keeps to heel ;" for these birds 

 will then oftentimes permit a man to approach within 

 gun-shot ; not always the case when they are beset by the 

 Fogel-Hund. 



If there be two or three " guns," and they form a line, 

 Avith beaters between them, the probability of making a 

 "bag" is of course much greater tlian when one is entirely 

 alone, because the bird, whether flushed from off' the ground 

 or from a tree, is then very apt to fly within range of one 

 or other of the company. But in the event of there being 

 several sportsmen, the '*line" — to enable it to hold a 

 straight course — must "dress" to some one in particular, 

 either to the man in the centre or to the person at the 

 extremity of one of the wings. But whilst thus traversing 

 the forest, no more noise must be made than an occasional 

 . low challenge responded to by all, thus enabling each man 

 to keep his proper place. 



But Capercali shooting in the manner spoken of, either 

 with or without a dog, was never a very favourite amuse- 

 ment of mine; for though one occasionally meets with 

 tolerable sport, yet it happens not seldom that, owing to 

 the immensity of the northern forests, and the uncertainty 

 of the whereabouts of the birds, you may wander a whole 

 day without obtaining a single shot. 



