68 



THE BIRDS OF THE WOODS 



the breeding-season, after searching in the vicinity for food and taking a due 

 share of rest during the day, he returns to the pairing-place with the evening 

 twilight, and either then or next morning repeats his chant some two or three 

 hundred times. As he grows agitated, he struts slowly to and fro on the branch, 

 spreading out his tail in turkey-like fashion, and at each note resembling in 

 attitude an ordinary barn-door fowl when crowing, the only difference being that 

 the breast, neck, and head are stretched forward. In Germany, the chant, or spel, 

 is generally uttered on a tree, or is at least commenced there, although sometimes 



HEX L'Al'Klll AILI.IK AND . 



on the ground, as is always the case in Transylvania. A curious phenomenon, 

 unknown among any other birds, is the deafness of the cock capercaillie during the 

 -/"/.especially towards the end. During this time the ears are practically shut, 

 so that the bird can hear absolutely nothing but its own voice. 



The love-call of the capercaillie begins like the clapping together of two 

 hard sticks, accompanied by a bell-like note, audible only when quite close. This 

 is uttered at first at short intervals, then more and more quickly, till it blends into 

 a gentle tremolo, followed by sounds like the uncorking of a bottle ; the finish 

 being like the whetting of a scythe. The cock is answered by the hen with a 

 long-drawn gack-gack, which is her note throughout. The alarm-note of the 



