THEIR PARENTAGE. 109 



Ilackel-Fogel are hybrids between tbe Capercali cock and 

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

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

 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. Talk. "There are," he says, "two kinds 

 of Backel-Foijel, differine; in their nature and habits. The 



O * O 



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, kndppningar and 

 klunken, being somewhat similar to those of that bird, 

 though more modulated ; but instead of sisningen, the 

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

 called raclda,* which is not unlike the grunting of a pig. 

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

 Capercali cock, and may be approached at the Lek in the 

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

 because of his continuing to raclda for a longer time than 

 the slsnlngcn 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 usually 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 were pretty 

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



* From the verb rackla, to hawk, or foive a\> phlegm with ;i imisc. ;md 

 , probably, the Swedish ilfsi{*n;ition of" I!,-\c]<rl 1 l;nu-." 



