THE FORESTS AND SPORT OF SIBERIA. 141 



the pairing black-grouse does one rise betimes in May; the hazel- 

 grouse alone is sought after by mimicking his love-call. But who 

 would put himself to so much trouble and discomfort for so uncer- 

 tain a prize? Only in autumn and winter does the chase reward 

 the Siberian as he desires and expects; when the young birds 

 change their plumage, when the coveys unite in large flocks, and 

 when these wander through the forest in search of berries, then is 

 the huntsman's opportunity. Whoever is not afraid of discomforts 

 of all kinds pursues the migrating flocks with his dogs — usually 

 pitiable helpers — and generally returns with rich booty; those who 

 know how to use snow-shoes hunt capercaillie and black-game 

 even in winter. After the first heavy snowfall the migrations 

 are stopped, and each flock seeks out a resting-place which 

 promises abundant food for a few days at least. In the begin- 

 ning of winter the still ungathered cranberries afford sufficient- 

 food, and afterwards the juniper berries; when both these supplies 

 are exhausted the easily satisfied birds take to the leaves of larch,, 

 and finally of pine and fir, and to the young cones of all these 

 conifers. As long as possible they continue their wanderings on 

 foot, and often cover seven or eight miles in a day; occasionally 

 they come within a few hundred paces of a settlement, and leave- 

 such distinct footprints on the fresh snow that the huntsman is bound 

 to discover them. When they are forced to take to a diet of pine- 

 needles, the sportsman is able to track them, at first by their drop- 

 pings, and eventually by their sleeping-places. For the Siberian 

 capercaillie and black-game differ in habit from their relatives in 

 Germany, and make more or less deep burrows, usually reaching 

 from the surface of the snow down to the ground. They leave 

 these in the morning, or when danger threatens, breaking with 

 beating wings through the coverlet of snow. These shelters are,, 

 therefore, readily recognizable, and as they also afford sure indica- 

 tion of the night on which they were used, they are most valuable 

 guides to the experienced sportsman. Amid continuous snowfall the- 

 birds sometimes remain beneath the snow till towards mid-day, and 

 then, after they have taken to the trees and are eating, they will 

 allow the huntsman to come within range, for they are not scared by 



