CHAPTER IV. 



Stalking Capercali. — Ndrtliui-n Forests. — Shooting by " Lack." — The 

 "Stick-Nat."— The " Kasse."— Tlie "Liiin."— The " Fall-Stock."— The 

 "Flaka."— The " Bloss.'— The " Bloss ach Haf."— The "Bulvan." 



^f^O stalk Capercali with a rifle in winter— a not vinusual 

 -■- pursuit with the peasants in the primeval forests 

 of the northern parts of Scandinavia — is a much more 

 exciting affair than pursuing them in the way spoken of 

 in the last chapter. 



At the season in question the cocks are mostly in 

 packs, and though I myself have never seen more than 

 fifteen or sixteen together, yet old chasseurs have assured 

 me that in their younger days, when game by all accounts 

 was more plentiful than at present, they have known 

 these birds to assemble in far greater numbers. Hens 

 are seldom seen iu these packs, but would appear to keep 

 almost entirely by themselves. 



The favourite resorts, during the winter, of these packs 

 of Capercali cocks are the borders of the numerous lakes 

 and morasses studding the face of the northern forests, 

 and when the snow lies deep on the ground and the trees 



