THEIR PARENTAGE. 109 



Rackel-Fogel are hyl)ncls between the Capercali cock and 

 the Grey-Hen ; whereas in snpport of the old theory, that 

 they are all the produce of the Black-Cock and tlie 

 Capercali hen, we have no other evidence than loose 

 guesses and vague surmises." 



The late M. Grill, another high authority on sporting 

 and matters relating to natural history, takes the same view 

 of the subject as M. Palk. "There are," he says, "two kinds 

 of Rackel-Fogel, differing in their nature and habits. The 

 one kind confines itself to the great woods, and the spel 

 or love song of the male in part resembles that of the 

 Capercali ; his first and second notes, hidppningar and 

 hlunhen, being somewhat similar to those of that bird, 

 though more modulated ; but instead of sisnvmjeu, the 

 third and last note of the Capercali, he utters a sound 

 called racl'la*' which is not unlike the grunting of a pig. 

 This kind of Rackel-IIane is about the neck more like the 

 Capercali cock, and may be api^roached at the Lek in the 

 same manner as that bird, or even with greater facility, 

 because of his continuing to rackla for a longer time than 

 the sisinngen of the Capercali lasts. The other kind of 

 llackel-Hane is about the neck more like the Black-Cock, 

 and in the spring resorts to the pairing-ground of the 

 latter, where, by his jealous and useless pursuit of the 

 cocks, he visually spoils the Lek." 



So much for the controversy in regard to the hybrids 

 in question, a subject on which I, for my part, am unable 

 to throw any light whatever ; for though I have seen a 

 good many specimens reputed to be Rackel-Fogel, I have 

 only killed a single male, and that in a densely-wooded 

 country, where both Capercali and Black-Cock Avere pretty 

 numerous — the former, if anything, the most so. It is 



* From the verb ruckla, to liawk, or forco up phlegm with a nuisi'. and 

 hence, i)roIi;ihly, the Sweilisli desigiiatiim of '• Rai-kel-Haiic." 



