12 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



smothered gurgle in the throat. These amorous 

 proceedings are not always left undisturbed, for 

 other males, hearing the commotion, hasten to the 

 spot to select their share of the spoil. In the breed- 

 ing seasons combats not unfrequently occur, whilst 

 the hens stand by as passive spectators. The 

 vanquished bird usually makes off through the 

 undergrowth, whilst the victor marches away with 

 his harem. In these battles the beaten birds are 

 usually young males of the previous year; and as 

 each of the old ones has its " playing ground," it 

 rarely invades that of its neighbour. The old males 

 reserve to themselves " rides " of the forest, and in 

 these they may be found year after year. During 

 the breeding season the birds remain much upon 

 the ground, and whilst leading about his harem the 

 male is exceedingly fierce. At this time so much is 

 this trait developed that they have been known to 

 rush out of the underwood and attack passers-by. 



The nest of the capercailzie is merely a hole scraped 

 in the ground, and in this from seven to fifteen eggs 

 are laid; ten or eleven being most frequent. The 

 slight nest is usually under some dwarf tree or shrub, 

 or even under a pine with low-drooping branches. 

 The eggs are laid during the latter weeks of May, and 

 incubation lasts about thirty days. The young 

 follow the brooding-bird through the greater part 

 of the winter, and then separate. The eggs are pale 



