COCK OF THE WOOD. 73 



absent themselves very soon, but the hens remain with the 

 parent bird until the next spring. 



The call-note of the hen bird is best expressed by the 

 word cahc, cahc, and serves equally to call the young birds, 

 as well as to inform the male where the hens are stationed. 

 The note of the male Cock of the Wood, that is heard in the 

 spring of the year, during the pairing season, is so very 

 extraordinary, that it can hardly be described, unless the 

 reader translate a long history into imaginary action, and 

 thus we will attempt to give an account of it. The first note 

 is as if two walking-sticks are knocked together ; and this blow 

 is successively repeated with increased speed, until the bird 

 finishes it with what is called the master stroke or blow : 

 upon this follows immediately a noise as if sharpening a 

 scythe, and ends finally in a long-drawn note of the last- 

 mentioned description. While the bird produces this noise, it 

 ruffles all the feathers of the head and neck, and fans out its 

 tail, twirling it about ; and becomes so agitated, that it 

 evidently turns a deaf ear to all around ; and sportsmen, who 

 are acquainted with this, make their approach during this 

 exhibition, and easily shoot the bird out of the tree. 



Some adult male birds have laid aside all fear of men, 

 and been known to attack them most courageously. 



The food of the Capercailzie, or Cock of the Wood, 

 consists in the long leaves of the fir and pine trees, buds 

 of many forest trees, and many sorts of green herbs, berries, 

 and insects ; they are also fond of corn. Water is drunk 

 frequently by this bird. The great difference that exists 

 in the size, plumage, and habits of the male and female, 

 exists also in regard of their food, for the female seems 

 to require much more tender morsels than the male, and 

 consequently her flesh is by far preferable to that of the 

 male bird : young cocks, while they remain with the parent 

 bird, and feed with her, are equally good for the table. 



