230 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



during their theatrical season that they may kill 

 them. A poet has given us a true description of 

 the follies of certain bird actors in these lines: 



"The cock of the wood courts his mates in the forest gay- 

 While strutting in ecstasy upon a fir branch high, 

 And marks not the hunter's stealthy tread; 

 Many thousands thus, alas, are caught . . ." 



The day before the "show" opens, the capercailzie 

 goes to the chosen place, usually a larch or fir tree, 

 where the bark is suitable for dancing, and there 

 begins to dress his feathers. He makes quite a 

 little noise with his toilette, and from time to time 

 listens with great attention to see if any "fair" 

 one is near; he flies to the ground and pecks about 

 uncertainly for a few moments, as though he were 

 planning what to do next. Then he returns to the 

 trees and begins a series of choking sounds, which 

 some naturalists have referred to as "retching" or 

 "cramming." This sound is not unlike the grunt- 

 ing of a pig, and is a sure sign that the bird will 

 play again the following morning. 



In the early morning, before sunrise, the per- 

 formance begins with a smacking sound, which is 

 not unlike the low guttural chirping of a turkey- 

 gobbler. This increases in rapidity until it becomes 



