CAPERCAILLIE. 23 



ones, or those of the preceding season, to play. Should the old birds, however, be killed, 

 the young ones, in the course of" a day or two, usually open their pipes. Combats, as 

 it may be supposed, not unfrequently take place on these occasions; though I do not 

 recollect having heard of more than two of these birds being engaged at the same time. 



The Capercaillie occasionally strikes up a few notes in the manuer of which I have 

 spoken, during the autumnal months — about Michaelmas, I believe. For this it is, 

 perhaps, difficult to assign a reason. Mr. Greiff suggests, 'that it may be to show the 

 young birds where the 'lek' is situated.' I have never myself heard the Capercaillie 

 playing at this period of the year; but I have met with men, on whose word I am 

 inclined to place confidence, who have repeatedly killed them at that time, whilst so 

 occupied. 



The Capercaillie lives to a considerable age; at least so I infer from the cocks not 

 attaining their full growth until their third year or upward. The old ones may be easilv 

 known from their greater bulk, their Eagle-like bill, and the more beautiful glossiness of 

 their plumage." 



The Capercaillie is, as may be gathered from the above extracts, polygamous; and as 

 soon as the hens begin to sit, they are deserted by the males, who skulk about among 

 the brushwood, till their plumage is renewed. 



"With regard to the methods adopted by poachers in this country for the capture of 

 the Capercaillie, we know nothing, but it is probable that somewhat similar devices are 

 used to those so successful in the destruction of the Pheasant. In Xorway and Sweden 

 so different are the ideas of sporting to ours, that the regular sportsman there adopts 

 measures for its capture, which Ave should here consider most unsportsmanlike, and such 

 as would only be used by the poacher. Custom, however, is everything, and there can 

 be little doubt that the modes of capture we are now about to relate, will frequently 

 fill the game bag, when it would otherwise have returned empty. Mr. Lloyd says that 

 ' : During the autumnal months, after flushing and dispersing the brood, people place 

 themselves in ambush, and imitate the cry of the old or young birds, as circumstances may 

 require. The manner in which this is practised may be better understood from what 

 Mr. Greiff says on the subject. — 



'After the brood has been dispersed, and you see the growth they have acquired, the 

 dogs are to be bound up, and a hut formed precisely on the spot from whence they 

 were driven, in which you place yourself to call; and you adapt your call according to 

 the greater or less size of the young birds. When they are as large as the hen, you 

 ought not to begin to call until an hour after they have been flushed; should you wish 

 to take them alive, a net is placed round him who calls. Towards the quarter the hen- 

 flies, there are seldom to be found any of the young birds, for she tries by her cackling 

 to draw the dogs after her, and from her young ones. So long as you wish to continue 



