144 THE WOOD GROUSE OR CAPERCAILZIE. 



or the calling is incorrect ; or else she has been 

 frightened, and will not then quit her place. A 

 young hen answers more readily to the call than an 

 old one.' 



" In other instances, the capercailzie is shot in the 

 night-time, by torch-light. This plan, which is said 

 to be very destructive, is, I believe, confined to the 

 southern provinces of Sweden, for in the more 

 northern parts of that country I never heard of its 

 being adopted. 



" In Smaland and Ostergothland, this is said to 

 be effected in the folio wing manner: Towards night- 

 fall, people watch the last flight of the capercailzie 

 before they go to roost. The direction they have 

 taken into the forest is then carefully marked, by 

 means of a prostrate tree, or by one which is felled 

 especially for the purpose. After dark, two men 

 start in pursuit of the birds : one of them is provided 

 with a gun, the other with a long pole, to either end 

 of which a flambeau is attached. The man with the 

 flambeau now goes in advance, the other remaining 

 at the prostrate tree, to keep it, and the two limits 

 in an exact line with each other ; by this curious con- 

 trivance they cannot well go astray in the forest. 

 Thus they proceed, occasionally halting, and taking 

 a fresh mark, until they come near to the spot where 

 they may have reason to suppose the birds are roost- 

 ing. They now carefully examine the trees ; and 

 when they discover the objects of their pursuit, which 

 are said stupidly to remain gazing at the fire blazing 



