132 FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



other causes have been at work, diminishing the 

 numbers of the latter in certain places where once 

 they were plentiful. The wood - grouse has had 

 nothing to do with the matter. 



In the forests of his native Scandinavia the 

 capercailzie is himself thinned in numbers by many 

 enemies. Man is the most deadly of them. He 

 shoots and traps the capercailzie to supply the 

 foreign markets during their seasons, and nets him 

 for acclimatising purposes, which is a simple but 

 very effectual proceeding. The bird simply walks 

 into a fine silk net, his very action of walking into 

 it drawing the meshes close round the victim; 

 and then he is helpless, ready to be picked 

 up and placed in coops with others for expor- 

 tation. 



Besides that arch - enemy man, the bird has its 

 own natural foes. There are the lynx, the wild and 

 the marten cats, the fox, the eagle, and the eagle- 

 owl, and the fierce and determined goshawk. But 

 the capercailzie is wary and has all his wits about 

 him, except at the hour when he is singing his 

 love - song. His numbers in the north of Europe 

 must be very great even now, although it is from 



