i64 SPORT IN EUROPE 



His favourite haunts are the Black Forest, the Thuringian Forest, 

 the Hartz Mountains, the Saxon State Forests, the Fichtelge- 

 birge, and the Alps in Bavaria. He is never driven, but stalked 

 (this term only can describe the pursuit) in the mating time {baltz) 

 in April and May, when his love-song betrays him and enables 

 the hunter to get at the otherwise wild and timid bird. Once having 

 taken to one locality or group of trees, he can be found there 

 every morning, until he is seriously disturbed ; but it is hard work 

 for the keepers, and takes weeks of patient night work to find 

 him, and as the bio- bird's voice is not audible farther than about 

 200-300 yards, even in the perfect stillness of night, a great deal 

 ot endurance and patience are necessary. The notes cannot well 

 be imitated in words or music ; their slight tones are repeated more 

 and more quickly, until further speed being impossible, the bird 

 closes with a distinct smack. The final note resembles the whetting 

 of two sharp knives one on the other, and when he emits it eyes 

 and ears are closed for three or four seconds, long enough to enable 

 an active man to take three or four large strides, or even jumps. 

 Before the amorous ditty ceases all must be still as the grave, and 

 the grey light of dawn will often reveal the hunter balancing on one 

 leg, or in some other awkward or comic position. In a few minutes 

 the song begins again and the strides are repeated, and so on 

 until the hunter is near enough to venture the shot. If clean missed, 

 at the right moment the cock can be fired at aoain. The writer 

 remembers a friend not only missing with the first shot, but, having 

 fired in a very awkward position, coming down with a crash by 

 the recoil. He lay quite still, got up during the next call, and 



