HOW TO SNARE THE CAPERCALI. 67 



From the construction of the Flaka, it must necessarily 

 be placed on level ground. 



The snares and traps described, and the kind used, 

 depend on the nature of the ground, and are set in such 

 parts of the forest as are known to be the favourite resorts 

 of the Capercali ; as, for instance, in cattle and by-paths, 

 between trees but little apart, in narrow passes amongst 

 rocks, and on knolls and eminences abounding with 

 berries ; as also near to sand-holes and other cavities ; as 

 to such situations birds are in the habit of resorting, 

 either for shelter in bad weather, or for the purpose of 

 " balling," i.e., dusting themselves. 



Cowberries and other berries, to which the Capercali 

 are partial, must always be scattered under and about the 

 traps and snares ; and, unless the locality be such as to 

 render the expedient needless, a " Mis-Hag" or low 

 fence, composed of twigs of the spruce-pine, should be 

 constructed on either side of the pathway, in which 

 these devices are set, to lead the birds into the toils. 



The proper time to bring the devices in question into 

 use and the fowler, to make it remunerative, should 

 have " at least one hundred traps and snares " is the 

 early part of October. The woods are then pretty clear 

 from cattle, and the night frosts have set in ; and, as 

 the greater part of the berries have by this time fallen 

 to the ground, the birds are more readily attracted by 

 those placed as lure by the fowler. 



The duration of the trapping season depends much on 

 the weather ; for it is at an end as soon as snow falls in 

 any quantity, because the traps and snares are thereby 

 smothered, so to say ; and because birds, from being 

 unable to find sustenance on the ground, confine them- 

 selves, for the most part, to the trees. 



" This system of trapping," M. Ekstrom remarks, 

 " does not form a part of the calling of (lie (rue sportsman 



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