excellently copied by Mr. Thorburn from a beautiful 
oil-picture by Mr. Wolf, now in my possession, and 
represents the male bird during the performance of his 
love-antics. These much resemble those of a domestic 
Turkey of the same sex, but are accompanied by a 
very remarkable love-song, quite impossible to describe, 
but never to be forgotten by those who have once heard 
it. When this frenzy possesses the bird, it is possible, 
by choosing the right moment, to approach within easy 
gun-shot and bring him down from his perch, but the 
previous “stalk” has to be carried on with extreme 
caution, as the old male Capercaillie is an exceedingly 
wary and wideawake bird when in full command of his 
senses. This bird is, in my experience, easy to rear, 
but not easy to keep alive in an ordinary aviary, as it 
requires an extensive range, and during the summer a 
variety of food that is by no means always easy to 
procure. ‘The Capercaillie frequently interbreeds with 
the Blackgame; the male hybrids are most beautiful 
birds, but, as is the case with the majority of cross- 
bred birds, are sterile. A good figure of one of these 
hybrids is given in the article on the Capercaillie in the 
Ath edition of ‘ Yarrell.’ 
