44-2 BRITISH BIRDS. 



tions is usually a favourite pine tree, conspicuous from its position on an 

 eminence or in an open part of the forest, but it is said that a flat-topped 

 rock in the forest is sometimes chosen as the lek-stdlle or " taking-place." 

 Just before sunrise and immediately after sunset are the times chosen by 

 the male to repair to the " laking-place " which he has frequented for 

 years. Perched on a conspicuous branch he stretches out his neck, ruffles 

 his feathers, and with drooping wings and erected tail, which is spread out 

 like a fan, he begins his "spel" or love-song. Mr. Lloyd ( e Game Birds 

 and Wild Fowl of Sweden and Norway/ p. 21) describes it as consisting 

 of three notes : pellep, several times repeated, resembling the sound of two 

 dry sticks struck together ; klickop, also repeated, like smacking the tongue 

 against the palate ; and hede, several times repeated, said to resemble the 

 sound made by sucking in the breath noisily, or by the grinding a knife 

 on a whetstone. The performance lasts two or three minutes, and is often 

 immediately repeated. The bird works himself into such a state of ecstasy 

 that during the last part of the "spel" he is oblivious of surrounding 

 objects, and is often shot by the natives, who take advantage of these 

 periods to advance by hurried stages within range. The females reply 

 with a harsh croak, and gather round him trying to attract his attention, 

 and finally he descends from his perch and pairs with each in succession. 

 The " laking-places" are usually near each other, and are often frequented 

 by numerous cocks ; but only the strongest birds are allowed to ( ' spel/' 

 the younger and weaker ones being obliged to stand aside until they have 

 fought their way into the privileged circle. 



The Capercaillie does not make any nest, but merely scrapes a hollow in 

 the ground among the heather or bilberries in the forest, collecting no 

 lining, but merely arranging the bits of dry grass that happen accidentally 

 to be on the spot. Naumann, who no doubt obtained his information from 

 the German foresters, says that young hens seldom lay less than five, or 

 more than eight eggs, but that older birds lay as many as eight to twelve, 

 and in rare instances fourteen or even sixteen. The ground-colour is pale 

 brownish buff spotted with reddish brown ; these spots are generally 

 profusely distributed, and in size vary from that of a pin's head to a mere 

 speck. In exceptionally handsome eggs many of the spots approach the 

 size of a pea, and some of them are fantastically shaped, whilst clutches 

 are occasionally found in which the spots are principally very small and so 

 evenly distributed over the entire surface of the egg as to conceal the 

 ground-colour. The eggs vary in length from 2*35 to 2'0 inch, and in 

 breadth from 1*7 to 1*5 inch, and resemble very closely those of the Black 

 Grouse, but may be distinguished by their larger size. 



The Capercaillie generally roosts in trees, but in severe seasons it will 

 seek shelter from the cold by burrowing into the snow. 



The general colour of the adult male Capercaillie is dark slate-grey, 



