CAFERCALI STALKING. 57 



prize, he must either climb the tree or cut it down ; an 

 expedient to which I myself once had to resort, and in 

 that case the tree, a Scotch fir, was of such huge 

 dimensions that my man was employed for fully half an 

 hour in felling it. 



From the early part of November (by which time the 

 ground is xisually covered with snow, at least in the northern 

 parts of the Peninsula) to the middle or latter end of 

 February is the best time to stalk the Capercali. As the 

 spring draws near the birds become shy, partly owing 

 to there being less snow in the trees, and partly to the 

 approach of the pairing season. 



Early in the winter, before much snow has fallen, a 

 man may follow the Capercali on foot ; but when the snow 

 lies deep on the ground, Skidor or SkarMgar* are abso- 

 lutely necessary. When at all near to the birds, however, 

 it is in most cases desirable to divest -oneself of these 

 implements, and to make further advances on foot ; a 

 somewhat wearisome operation when the snow is three or 

 four feet in depth. 



Though, owing to a very bad rifle, my own performances 

 when thus stalking the Capercali were small for on no 

 one day did I ever bag more than three of those birds 

 yet others have been much more successful. 



* Skarbagar are frames of open wicker-woi'k, of a roundish or oval shape, 

 about fifteen to eighteen inches in length, and twelve in breadth, described 

 and depicted in " Field Sports of the North of Europe." These implements 

 are of imperfect construction, but possess the great advantage of being 

 easily made and as easily repaired. In the Northern forests, when the 

 snow lies deep, one often sees horses provided with Skarb&gar, which con- 

 sist of circular iron rings, ten to twelve inches in diameter, across which 

 :uv several transverse bars of the same metal; they are fastened to the 

 fetlock with leathern thongs. Thus equipped, the horses necessarily 

 straddle a little in their gait, but are then enabled to traverse the forest in 

 all directions, let the snow be ever so deep. 



