20 GAME BIRDS AND SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



deadly foes collecting on both sides of them. It must, 

 however, be a very severe gale that drives them from 

 their usual haunts, for, as a rule, the rocky hillsides to 

 which they resort are to a great extent shut in by other 

 hills, which form for their homes a natural protection ; 

 thus it is of rare occurrence to see the birds changing 

 their ground for shelter, and on those occasions when 

 they do, Capercaillie may be said to be gregarious to a 

 certain extent, whereas, as a general rule, one does not 

 see more than a family party together. 



On a fine still day the birds seem to like to resort to 

 the high trees on the edge of their domain, and it is a 

 common sight in autumn or winter to see three or four, 

 generally hens, sitting on the ends of the branches, whilst 

 they trim their feathers and bask in the sun. Weather 

 seems to have much to do with the movements of the 

 Caper, for on such days as these they will betake them- 

 selves to great distances from their home to make havoc 

 on the cornfields in the neighbourhood ; but I do not 

 recollect a single instance of seeing them feeding in the 

 fields during wet weather. Grouse and Blackgame seem 

 to be but little affected by wet weather ; they come into 

 the " stooks " as readily then as they would any other 

 evening ; but Capers seem to manifest a much greater 

 disinclination to move from the w r oods and the deep 

 heather, in which they are generally to be found, on wet 

 and stormy days. 



The Caper changes its ground in search of fresh diet, 

 as do nearly all other birds, and low-ground woods which 

 one day may be known to hold a large number of birds 

 are comparatively deserted the next without any apparent 



