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" On hearing the spel of the cock, the hens assemble at the ' lek-stalle ' from all parts of the 

 surrounding district, and alight either on the very tree where he is perched, or other trees in the 

 immediate vicinity, when they make their presence known by their somewhat melancholy lackton, 

 or call-note, resembling in a degree the words Gock ! Gock ! Gock ! or rather, perhaps, the croak of 

 the raven. 



"A little before sunrise, the cock usually descends from his perch and alights on some open 

 spot in the forest close by, where the hens (as seen in the accompanying drawing) collect about 

 him ; and here, during the intervals of his spel, which he still continues, and whilst parading 

 amongst the ladies of his harem, he pairs with each in succession. 



" Immense excitement is then exhibited, not only by the male but also the female. The 

 latter may be seen, with outstretched neck and hurried movements, flitting round and round her 

 lord, as if challenging his notice, till at length, approaching more boldly, she nestles close beside 

 him and solicits attentions which his gallantry ultimately accords. Indeed, so absorbing is the 

 love of the female Capercali during the pairing-season that hens, whose mates have been shot, 

 have been found lying on the ground in a state of excitement, and at the same time giving 

 utterance to the plaintive call-note by which they were wont to lure him to pairing ; and so 

 abstracted, moreover, as actually to allow themselves to be taken by the naked hand. 



"Several cocks, old and young, not unfrequently congregate at the same ' lek-stalle;'' but so 

 long as the old birds live, the young, or those of the preceding season, are not allowed to spel — 

 and should they venture so to do, are pretty sure of getting what Brother Jonathan calls ' badly 

 whipped.' But when the old birds are shot, the young ones, after the lapse of a day or two, 

 commence ; and occasionally several may be heard at their spel at the same time ; and then, as 

 M. Greiff says, ' it goes gloriously.' 



" Early in the pairing-season, when the male for the most part is quite alone, he does not 

 spiel regularly or with much animation, merely giving expression to a few straggling notes ; but 

 when at an after-period the females make their appearance at the 'lek-stalle' he ' opens his pipes,' 

 as has been quaintly observed, ' in right good earnest.' ' When the Woodcock rodes, the frogs 

 croak in the marshes, the Snipe drums in the air, and the dung-beetle buzzes about one's ears,' 

 the Capercali is said to spel best. Commonly he holds his spel from daybreak to sunrise, and 

 from a little after sunset until quite dark. The length of time greatly depends on the state of 

 the weather and the season of the year. When the spring is far advanced, indeed, he not 

 unfrequently continues his spel throughout the greater part of the night. 



" During calm and misty weather, the spel of the Capercali is most animated. Even during 

 a regular downfall of rain or sleet, unless accompanied by a high wind, he carries it on. 

 Ekstrom mentions having on one occasion shot a Capercali at the 'lek-stalle' whose sides were 

 altogether white with wet snow, which had fastened amongst his feathers. If the weather be 

 extremely cold, his sp>el is either dull or he ceases altogether, and, as surmised, for this reason, 

 that the froth, which at such times exudes from his bill, becomes congealed, and prevents him 

 from expressing his notes. 



" The period when the Capercali discontinues his spel depends much on the season ; for, if 

 forward, he begins early and concludes early ; but if, on the contrary, the spring be backward 

 the reverse is the case. As a general rule ' sportsmen consider his spel ended when the leaves 



