CAPERCALZIE SHOOTING. 39 



the two lights in an exact line with each other ; by 

 this curious contrivance they cannot well go astray 

 in the forest. Thus they proceed, occasionally halt- 

 ing, and taking a fresh mark, until they come near 

 to the spot where they have reason to suppose the 

 birds are roosting. They now carefully examine the 

 trees, and when they discover the objects of their 

 pursuit, which are said to remain stupidly gazing at 

 the fire blazing beneath, they shoot them at their 

 leisure. Should there be capercalzies in the same 

 tree, however, it is always necessary to shoot those 

 on the lower branches in the first instance : for, 

 unless one of these birds falls on its companions, it 

 is said the rest will never move ; and, in consequence, 

 the whole of them may be readily killed." 



Now this we are constrained to pronounce poach- 

 ing even to the reproach of innermost Cockaigne. 

 Hear how Mr. Brehm, another Swede, used to go 

 about his sport : " I usually shot the capercalzie," 

 he says, " in company with my Lapland dog, Bru- 

 nette, a cocker. She commonly flushed them from 

 the ground, where, for the purpose of feeding on 

 berries, &c., they are much during the autumn 

 months. In this case, if they only saw the dog, 

 their flight in general was short, and they soon 

 perched in the trees. Now as Brunette has the eye 

 of an eagle" (brunettes mostly have) " and the foot of 

 an antelope, she was not long in following them. 

 Sometimes, however, these birds were in the pines 

 in the first instance ; but as my dog was possessed 



